BARGE SINKS IN PIAKO.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5390, 20 February 1929, Page 3

BARGE SINKS IN PIAKO.

MISHAP NEAR NGATEA WHARF.

INTERFERENCE WITH TRAFFIC.

A barge, the “Rover,” owned by McCallum Bros., of Auckland, loaded, with about 120 yards of red; meta], sunk in the Piako River a fcjw chains below the Ngatea wharf'at about, one o’clock on Monday morning, and m»v lies across the stream with only a small portion of the stern deckhouse roof visible at high tide.

The barge was anchored on Sunday to await its turn to be unloaded! at the County Council’s stage at the Ngatea wharf, and at the turn of the tide it swung round. The stern hit the right bank of the river, and it is presumed that this caused the water in the barge to rash to the bow, for the vessel sunk within five minutes. The bargeman, who was just turning in for tlie night, was taken by surprise and had to escape quic.kly. As, there Is no authority in charge of. the Piako waterway no notification was given to other shipping, and confusion prevailed on Tuesday morning when a tug with two metal barges, the Waipu, and the auxiliary vessel AVhakanui we're all proceeding up the rive;r c.lose behind one another and in a. dense fog. The lights on the mast of the sunken barge could be seen only at. a short distance, and the five vessels were tangled up for spme time owing to the tug having to stop suddenly. In the confusion another barg,e was rammed slightly by the steamer, but little damage resulted. There is room to pass the sunken barge at high tide, and no further mishaps have occurred, but the proximity of the obstruction to the Ngatea whai.f, which is now continuously occupied by barges or scows, and with such vessels anchored in the stream awaiting their turn at the wharf, navigation is made difficult. It is hoped to be able to unload tlie metal from thq sunken barge on to another barge at low tide, but this may take some time.. An effort will then be made to batten do,wo the hatches and pump the water out with the powerful pumps op McCallum Bros.’ tug Pourau. If this is not successful tlie barge will be lifted with other vessels on the rising tide and placed where the water will drain out.