AWARUA SAFELY MOORED.
TOWED INTO NAPIER
VESSEL ESCAPES WITHOUT DAMAGE.
Napier, September 22.
The cruiser Dunedin towed the Awarua into the bay this morning, and about noon the rescued steamer was berthed at the breakwater after a somewhat anxious time at sea, due to shortage of coal and provisions.
Last Tuesday night the Awarua was making for Wellington from the Chathams, but- was unable, owing to the gale, to round Cape Turakurae. Trouble soon began because the coal was running out, and on Friday the engines stopped. The ship’s company showed no signs of the ordeal through which they had passed, and the vessel came out of the experience quite undamaged except that part ot the fore rigging was carried away when the Awarua collided with) the Dunedin, and a hole made in the wall of the mate’s cabin.
Interviewed, the captain of the Awarua said the ship behaved splendidly. When the engine stopped she ran before the wind with a try sail set till the Dunedin hove in sight on Saturday morning. When the cruiser went alongside on Sunday mroning a heavy sea was running, and the Dunedin collided with the Awarua, causing the damage referred to.
Having secured a tow line, the Dunedin commenced to tow the Awarua to Wellington, but after proceeding against a head wind on Sunday and Monday, decided to make for Napier. Progress was necessarily slow in the heavy sea.. Questioned about water supplies, Capt. Sawyers said the vessel arrived here with over 200 gallons in the tanks. Fresh provisions had run low, and a supply, floated to the Awarua on a raft from the Dunedin, was welcomed, though there was apparently no shortage of tinned provisions. After communicating with the Makura last Tuesday night, the Awarua drifted seaward out of sight of land with half a ton of coal in the bunkers. On Wednesday an attempt was made to steam back to land, but after midnight she was again drifting to the nonvest. On Thursday the wind was south-west and moderated slightly and try-sails were rigged. The vessel was running four knots, and the decks constantly swept, the wind necessitating furling the aft sail. When the coal gave out on Friday the hand pumps had to be manned night and day till the Awarua was towed into Napier. When the Dunedin was sighted on Saturday) morning, the Awarua was 70 miles east of Gable End foreland. A long tow through heavy seas ended in perfect calm and sunshine in Hawke’s Bay. The Dunedin left for Auckland at 5.15 p.m. • The members of the crew of the Awarua believed that the worst fate was in store for them. One asserted that the vessel was not safe to leave harbour and could not cany sufficient coal for an emergency. Their experience, they all agreed, was the worst they had ever had and all were happy to get out of it. It is understood that slight damage was done to the warship when the vessels bumped one another.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MH19260923.2.20
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3541, 23 September 1926, Page 3
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502AWARUA SAFELY MOORED. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3541, 23 September 1926, Page 3
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