Attempt to float the Elginshire.

Manawatu Herald, 10 September 1892, Page 2

Attempt to float the Elginshire.

The attempt to float the steamer Elginshire, which has been lying on the reef opposite Normanby for over six months, was again a failure. The syndicate lost no time in getting to work. They got the most powerful pumps to be procured in the Colony, and saw that ail the connections were of the strongest kind. In the compartments (Nos. 2 and 4) where the greatest damage was found to be done they built bulkheads around the broken plates and affected other practical repairs, go that the inflow of water was reduced as much as possible. Weather and the tide and sea were most favourable. The pumps were set going at top speed, and soon had the ship as dry as was desired, commensurate with safety, but on the strain being put on the cables whioh were out to the anchors, the vessel did not move. A> the steamer is supposed to overhang the reef, the bow was therefore kept low with the hope of canting the stern, but this also had no effect. Captain Millbank says that the steamer is firmly fixed aft, and that in his opinion she wants at least two or three feet more water about her aft before she can be expected to come off. He says that as the tides and weather are so good, another attempt may be made, but there is no cer • tainty about it.