S.S. KIWITEA

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1930, Page 1

S.S. KIWITEA

SPRINGS A LEAK. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 20. The Union Company’s Kiwitea, bound Jrom Auckland to Westport commenced to'make water in No. 2 hold last Wednesday, and it returned to Auckland last night. It was believed that the ballast tank sprang a leak, hut since her return here, it was discovered that there was an opening m the hull through the .starting of rivets.

“We had a terrible time,” said a member of the crew to-day. “We began to think that we were to lie a second Tahiti disaster. .

The Kiwitea sailed from Auckland for Westport at nine p.m. on Monday Cape Maria van Diemen, was passed at seven o’clock the following evening. On Wednesday morning, she struck a southerly gale, and high head seas. The Kiwitea was in ballast trim with only 40 tons of cargo in the hold, and considerable difficulty was experienced in making headway. The gale continued throughout Wednesday night, and at five o’clock on Thursday morning there were no indications of the conditions moderating, Captain F. G. Bilton decided to return to Auckland for repairs to the tank. The leak caused half of the cargo in No. 2 hold to be damaged, and the balance was transferred to another hold, in exciting circumstances.