DAMAGED AT SEA.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1924, Page 1

DAMAGED AT SEA.

WAITIEAIO RETURNS TO PORT DUNEDIN, June 25

The AVaihemo, with a heavy list to port, suggesting heavy weather experienced, steamed up to Port Chalmers this morning. Her No 2 hold was awash and an ambulance was required to convey an injured seaman to the hospital. Last Saturday afternoon the AVaihemo left Port Chalmers for Aiaunt Island, via Newcastle; she had just come out of dry-dock belore sailing. In tho dock she had been repaired, rivets being put into her bottom plating to take the place of bolts which had been inserted by divers when tlie steamer damaged her bottom by running aground at Newcastle. Ihe temporary repairing effected by resort to holts and nuts had enabled tlie vessel to bring her cargo of coal to Now Zealand, where it was discharged: she then went into dry dock lor permanent repairs.

On Sunday morning she struck very had weather. Moderate weather had prevailed after she left Port Chalmers the previous afternoon, and she was clearing Fovoaitx Strait, but had not made Puysegur Point, when the storm struck her. Sailing light as she was the gale shook her mercilessly, a very heavy sea came, up and she wallowed in the trough of it. having no cargo on board to impart stability to her towering structure. The position became critical. Ineffectual attempts were made to alter her course, in order to clear the rocky coastline, hut the propeller wa“ partly out of the wafer because of the light draught and was unable to exercise its driving force effectively. As the hours passed slowly the conditions did not improve, the wind blew as fiercely from the opposite direction and ihe tension was relieved only temporarily. Again the wind changed its direction. hut it still blew fiercely, and the sea was more confused. J.ale on Sunday afternoon further trouble came. A blinding Hash of lightning exploded in the vicinity of the funnel and the flame ol it ran along the aerial of the ship's wireless equipmont. The vessel's electric light system fused and the men on deck at the time were almost blinded by the light-

ning. Kventually the Waihomo was headed hack to Foveaux Strait.

About midday yesterday, Mon Ilrodcrick, a seaman from the AN est Coast, fell down the hold and was severely injured. lie was conveyed to the Dunedin Hospital after the steamer's arrival this morning.

In No 2 hold the rolling and pitching of the vessel had smashed a lot of ilu> floating planking into dunnage wood: the reason for the water being in the hold was not quite clear and steps were immediately taken to repair the damaged bilge pump piping in order Mint the water in the hold might he pumped out. The extent and nature of the damage will he ascertained when the hold is pumped dry.