STEAMER SINKS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1930, Page 6

STEAMER SINKS

IN WAIHOU RIVER

WHARF JUST REACHED,

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association.]

THAMES, September 24

Striking a snag at 4.30 this morning, in a heavy fog, the Northern Steamship Company’s “Taniwha,” en route : from Auckland to Paeroa, just got to the Puriri Wharf before she sank.

When seen by a reporter this morning, Captain J. Freeman said that the vessel left Auckland about midnight in the usual way, and she arrived at the mouth of the Waihou, going up on the tide. She landed mails at Turua, and left that wharf at 5.20 a.m., bound for Puriri, where she had a passenger to land. After leaving Turua the vessel steamed up the river and a, 5.35 a.m. she ran into a heavy fog bank. It stretched from bank to bank. An order was at once given to reduce speed. The pace of the vessel was reduced to a crawl. dust as the vessel was abreast of the Puriri Beacon at 5.40( she -struck what appeared to be a snag, heavil.vl. At once it was thought that something serious had occurred, for the crew could hear water rushing in to the vessel. At once the Taniwha began to settle her bows. She was hurried to the Puriri Wharf, where she was made fast. By the time that the captin was able to get on to the wharf, the structure of the vessel had sunk, and was resting on mud. All haste was made to send out the mooring linos for- and aft, to the wharf, and also to the banks, and to secure the ship in an upright position. In the meantime, the tide was rising rapidly and, it being a strong spring tide, it filled the holds at once. As she lay this morning the Taniwha was well down by the stern. She was full of water right up to the deck. The engine room was flooded, and so is the whole vessel in all of the holds. Before the boat went down, it was found possible to land the two-year-old racehorse, Hunting Horn, which was returning after running at the Avondale Races. As long as it was possible to maintain a head of steam, the crew busied themselves in landing as much of the cargo as possible, but finally the water drove the stokehold gang out, rising very rapidly and putting out,the fires. About 100 tons of cargo was aboard, consigned to Paeroa and Puriri, as well as other landings up t?ie river. Much of it was fuel oil; but a quantity was perishable goods for several stores in the district. Practically all this cargo is under water. The crew lost the whole of their bedding and belongings'. It was impossible to save much"." Captain J. Freeman has been in command of the Taniwha for the last 1G years, he having taken over at the outbreak-of the war. This. is., the first time that he has been, involved in any loss.

Mr W. Stone, th%chief engineer, was on watch at the time of the catastrophe. ' He- stated that the inrush of water was very rapid. It was only ton minutes from the striking of the snag till the sinking of the ship. ' As she lies at present, the Taniwha lias her bows pointing downwards. It is thought tliat tlie hole which caused the sinking is on the port how. With an exceptionally high tide expected to-day, the chances are that tlie decks will be under.water. In the meantime little will be done until the arrival of the representatives of the underwriters. The Taniwha is a screw steamer of 263 tons gross. She has been trading around the locality for a number of years. Her net tonnage is 191, her length 108 feet, and her beam 23 feet. TANTW i r,V REFLOATED. THAMES, This Day. The Taniwha was refloated with the iassistance ' n the scow “Motu” in this morning’s tide. At low water yesterday evening the crew got a collision mat in position, tlie Motu pumping the Taniwha out. The damage is unascertninable.