Shipping Tollision

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1922, Page 4

Shipping Tollision

.... .. .. -- - MAORI AND ZITA. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION. niIMSTC’H i'BOM, Feb. 2(5 A collision occurred at 4.15 a.in. today between the ferry steamer .Maori and the auxiliary schooner Zita, about 45 miles off Bvttelton I leads. Fortunately it was without any serious dam- 1 ago to either vossiel. The Maori was steaming along in clear weather, and was just approaching a bank of fog, when the Zita emerged from the bank' right in the path of the ferry steamer. Mr Morgan, chief officer of the Maoti, was on duty at the time, and lie steered immediately to starboard. The Zita was under sail only, and those aboard apparently thought they had not been seen, for they put their vessel to port.

Before matters could lie restijicd,' the Zita collided with the Maori, her howsprit striking the steamer on the port side a few feet from the how, the schooner being swung round by the impact. By this time, Cap* ain I rwin was on the bridge of the Maori, and, after stopping the steamer, hailed Hie Zita, but he was informed that all aboard were all right. However, the Maori stood by for over an hour, and Captain Johansen, of the Zita, then announced that the schooner was making no water, and be would proceed on bis vovage to Wellington. The only damage to the Maori was a port-bole smashed and some paintwork scraped.

It was fortunate the Zita struck the Maori, instead of vice versa. Otherwise tlie sharp bow of the steamer would undoubtedly have cut into the schooner and sunk her. The saloon passengers on the port side of the lowest deck we're considerably alarmed as thie schooner scraped and bumped past the portholes. Many arose and dressed, hut there was no-, thing in the nature of a panic. 4