TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1917, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

Per Press Association.--Copyright.

MARAROA ASHORE.

Further Particulars.

The Mararoa is ashore at Turakinrae Point, between Palliser Bay and Pencarrow Head. The Monawai and a Home liner are standing by. The stranded vessel’s sterii is in four and a-lialf fathoms of water, and the vessel is not making any waiter. The fog was still heavy at 11 a.m.,

Floated Off.

No Apparent Damage

WELLINGTON, Feb 26,

The Mararoa which grounded at I'a urn kina Point yesterday morning was towed off by the trig Terawliiti on water about live o’clock last evening. x

The vessel apparently was undamaged but had to be 'towed to port owing to x hawser fouling the propellor.

Half an hour after the Mararoa grounded tho Monowai approached on her way from Auckland to Wellington and lay off the shore.Her boats went to the Mararoa and transferred all her 210 passengers to the Monowai.

Despite a thick fog the transfers were made without accident, the tug Natone towing the boats across the space, about two miles,' between the bigger vessels. The 'tug Terawliiti reached the scene in tlie afternoon with salvage gear. In the afternoon she got lines aboard, and made fast to big anchors placed about a thousand feet seawards. This work occupied about threo hours; then the Mararqa’s engino worked astern and her winches hauled on the hawsers to the anchors and 1; Terawhiiti began towing. The tide was now making, and utter little moro than half an hour’s hauling the Mararoa slid off into deep water about five o’clock as stated. " As tho hawser slackened when the Mararoa moved out, the bight of one got round her screw. The tug Natone then made fast ana kept the Mara ion’s head to sea while tho Terawliiti recovered the anchors. About seven o’clock this task was completed and the two tugs took the Mararoa in tow, arriving in Wellington a little after midnight. Captain Reid was on the bridge all night on Friday, and was tliero wheu the accident occurred.

Tbo Pa toon n loft Wellington at 12.30 a.m., on Sunday for juyttelton in placo of the Mararoa, and will remain in that service until the latter lias docked at Lyttelton for survey, cleaning and painting. MAPO (JIIHvA SUBSTITUTED FOR NELSON SERVICE.

Tbe Mapourika takes up the Pateena’s Wellj.ngton-Picton-Nel.son ser-

vice. Thero will be no passenger boot to Westport and Grey this week.

A Narrow Escape

Wellington, Feb 26

While endeavoring to free tbe Mararoa’s propeller from the hawser which fouled it yesterday, the Union Company’s diver, Smith, met with a peculiar mishap. He was working all the afternoon and about 5 o’clock aa there was no response to the signals it indicated that something was wrong.

Two other divers were secured and went down." They found Smith entangled and hold tightly in a loop of the hawser.

Nearly two hours’ work was necessary to free him.

Smith was uuin jured. though rather exhausted by the long immersion in a trying circumstance. He was altogether five hours under water.

Question of Nationality.

Hawera Feb 23

Tbe Military Service Board to-day received an opinion from the SolicitorGeneral with reference to tbe appeal of Frederick Anett. on the ground that he is an alien, The Solicitor-General stated that the appellant having been born in New Zealand is a natural born British Bubject and reservist. The nationality rf the parents is immaterial.

• Tbe appeal was dismissed.

Wellington, Feb 24