CITY OF KIMBERLEY

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1931, Page 2

CITY OF KIMBERLEY

TAIL-SHAFT BROKEN IN PACIFIC. AUCKLAND, July 2. With a broken tail-shaft and no propeller, the EHerman and Bucknal! steamer City of Kimberley, bound from New York to Auckland, arrived to-day after being towed for 1335 miles by the New Zealand Shipping Company's motor vessel Opawa, wh'ch rescued the distressed ship in the Pacific Ocean oil June 22. This was one of tiie largest towing feats to end at Auckland. "The most probable thing is that the vessel struck a submerged object,” said Captain Arthur W. Wooster, master of the City of Kimberley at 1,45 p.m. on Sunday, Juno 21, we were standing on deck talking, when suddenly the ship commenced to vibrate violently. AVe knew at once that the trouble concerned the propeller. 'We put a ladder down over the stern and found that the propeller had gone and part of the shaft had' broken off. A wireless call for aid was sent out and next day the Opawa arrived. The tow commenced, that evening' and proceeded without incident. t'he day’s run varying from 185 100 miles.”

CY.ptp.in Wooster said that a new propeller and shaft would have to be obtained from England, which would probably mean that the vessel would be laid up for two months. No water had leaked into the ship, hut until she had been examined in dock, where she would go on Monday, the full extent of the damage would not be known. The cargo for Auckland, which is on the City of Kimberley, will he unloaded here in the ordinary way. As the vessel will probably he delayed for some time awaiting repairs, the question of transhipping her other cargo might arise. No decision, however, will he made in this connection until the vessel has entered dry dock and the extent of the damage is estimated. The vessel carries a general cargo from New York for Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin and Sydney.