JAMES COOK'S MISHAP AT TAURANGA

Grey River Argus, 12 October 1948, Page 8

JAMES COOK'S MISHAP AT TAURANGA

AUCKLAND, October 11. The Sleigh Line steamer James Cook arrived at Tauranga from Auckland on Saturday afternoon to maiK the opening of a significant phase m the port’s development. The 7208-ton vessel, the largest to visit. Tauranga, will load an experimental shipment of more than I.UUU,000 feet of timber for Australia. Her visit will enable forestry, harbour and other interests to test the port’s suitability for such ships, and if the experiment is success, Tauranga may become a leading export centre ioi timber. , •-> j „ Conditions on Saturday provided a severe test for the port. The ship entered the port on a full tide m a strong westerly wind, with gusts ot up to 50 miles an hour. She was towed by a launch through the narrow Stella passage towards her berth at the railway wharf. The launch kept her steady against the strong windand as the ship approached the whart where a small crowd of on lookers was waiting, both anchors were dropped, and she was swung around with the help of the launch. One mishap marred the berthing of the ship. The towline caught against die skylight of the launch as the ship began to swing. It then freed itself, and struck the owner of the launch, Mr Arthur Walling, of Tauranga. across the face, throwing him into the water. A rope was lowered oyer the side and Mr Walling was quickly hauled, aboard. He suffered minor CU The‘ captain of the James Cook was able to bring the vessel into port without the help of a pilot.