THE AWARUA.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1926, Page 1

THE AWARUA.

HER EXPERIENCES. [by TELEGRAM —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.| NAPIER, Sept. 21. Captain Sawyers and the crew of the Awarua are well. The vessel drifted up the Coast in a helpless condition, the only slight assistance received being from the trysails, fore and aft. which gave enough steerage way to keep clear of the land. When the Dunedin hove in sight there was enough' food to continue rations" for ten days, but their water was almost exhausted. The Dunedin s”Snt supplies aboard by means of a raft iinmediateately, it being too rough for the wardship to approach the steamer. Some members of the crew had just about given up all hope, when the Dunedin hove in sight. A farewell message had been prepared and placed in a, beer bottle, ready for throwing overboard.' .The captain refused to say one syllable to the reporters. The Awarua berthed at the breakwater, The vessel was undamaged except where the Dunedin crashed into her side, causing splintered bulwarks, forward, which was caused by a rough job!vie. For several days the crew battled with the elements with the deck awash fore and aft. The men had a strenuous time and it became necessary to man the pumps, but the weather moderated and the ship endeavoured to turn to the land but a fresh gale sprang up and the light commenced all over again. The sight of the Dunedin brought- relief hut the end of their troubles were only in sight. 'I he Dunedin had a difficulty in towing the Awnrua on account of the wash and this restricted the speed to three knots per hour. IS SHE A SAFE SHIP. , NAPIER, Sept. 21. The members of the crew of the Awarua believed that the worst fate was in store for them. One of them asserted tint the vessel was not safe to leave harbour, and that she could not carry sufficient coal for an emergency. Their experience, all the men agreed, was the worst one that they have over had, and they are all happy to get out of it. It is understood that slight damage was done to the warship when the vessels bumped one another. All the crew were anxious to communicate with their relatives. It is not known how long the Awavua will remain in port. TOPS. Dunedin returns to Auckland immediately. The Awnrua sails for Wellington tomorrow. 1 WELLINGTON, Sept, 21. In a letter to the Minister of Marine. the Seamen’s Union demand an inquiry as to whether the Awarua was seaworthy witliin the meaning of the Act', and also urging .an improvement in the wireless regulations. STORY OF HER.-'ORDEAL. NAPIER, Sept. 21/ Last Tuesday night the Awarua, when making for Wellington from the Chnlhams. was unable, owing to the gale, to round Cape Turaliurac. Trouble soon begin, because the coal was running out, and on Friday the engines stopped. The Dunedin sighted the drifting Awarua the following day. but it was not till next day that a tow line was got aboard. Then followed a tedious tow to Napier. The ship’s company betraved no signs of the ordr.i] through which they passed, and the vessel came out of her experience quite undamaged, except that hart of the fore rigging was carried away blien the Awarua collided with tne Dunedin, and . i hole was made in the a all of the mate's cabin. Interviewed, the Captain of the Awnrua said that I’m ship had behaved splendidly. When the engines stopped, she ran before the wind with a. trysail set. till the Dunedin hove in sight on Saturday morning. A\ ben the c-iuis-or went alongside on Sunday morning, a .'heavy sen was running, and the Dunedin collided with the Awarua, causing the damage referred to. Having secured the tow line, the Dunedin commenced to tow the Awarua to A\ elUnglon. but after proceeding against the head wind on Sunday and Monday, it, was decided to make for Napier, Progress was necessarily slow in the , heavy seas. Questioned about the water supplies. Captain Sayers said the vessel arrived here with over 20!) gallons in her tanks. The fresh provisions lad run low, and the supply floated to the Awarua on a raft from the Dunedin was welcomed, though there was apparently no shortage of tinned provisions. That those on board the Awnrua had considered the possibility of the loss of the ship is evidenced by the fact that the Steward, Farmer, had written a letter to his sister, to be thrown, overboard if the worst happened. After communicating with the Mnkura last Tuesday night, the Awarua drifted seaward out of sight of land, with -oulv. half. a ton of. coal in her bunkers.' On Wednesday an attempt, was made to, steam back to laud, but .after midnight she was again drifting with a nor'-wester. On‘Thursday tui wind was-south-west, and it moderated slightly, and so the try-sails were rig,red. The vessel was then running-at Fear knots, and her docks were, constantly swept, the wind necessitating the furling of the aft sail. The con.' gave out on Friday, and the banc .pumps had to bo manned night ana day till the Awarua was towed into Napier. When the Dunedin was sighted on Saturday morning, the Awarua was seventy miles east of Gable and the foreland. The long, tow through the heavy seas ended in a- perfect calm nnd sunshine in Hawke’s Bay. Tho Dunedin left for Auckland at 5.15 p.m. MAE UR A CASE. WELLINGTON, Sept, 21. A. letter has been forwarded by the General Secretary of the-Federated Seamen’s' Union to the Minister of Marine demanding an inquiry into the a nest ion of the Makura’s action.