INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 49, 26 February 1879, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[press agency.] Tauhanga, Tuesday night. The Bay of Plenty limes reporter visited the wreck of the Taupo to-day, aud states that operations for pumping the Taupo commenced at 11-45 o'clock. A prize centrifugal pump by Ransomo and Sims with a 16 horsepower engine, which weighed eight tons, was rigged on the upper deck amidships on the starboard side, the pump was shipped from Auckland, and the work of getting it on board and properly fixed was extremely hazardous. Another pump of less power was also set up on the main deck on the port side and the valves of both were lowered into the hold. A trial was first made with the larger pump, which was set going at 1 1 30. It was found to gain on the water at the rate of one inch in 45 sees, but owing to some of the genr getting out of order it had to be stopped, and the water rushed in again at the rate of about one inch in 20 seconds. At 11-50 the smaller pump was started, the water not allowing the fire to be lighted sooner. It was found to gain on the water one inch per minute and si half. At 1155 both pumps started together, aud were found to faise an inch in 55 sees, but this rate did not last very long, for the large pump was not found to work very well* the basket in which the valve was placed lying on coal, which interfered with the proper suction power of the pump. After working for about half an hour the rate of lifting was only about one inch in 80 to 90secs. At one o'clock about three feet of water had been pumped out of the after hold, the water in the engine room beiugabout 18 inches higher. At this time a perfect stream could beseen ruuning iu from behind the fixed tank on the port side of the upper hold immediately in wards all hands were employed fn removing cargo that had been allowed to remain under water. This consisted of a number of cases of cod fish and bales of bops, which were thrown overboard, and some cases of tinned meats. The pump3 now worked more slowly owing to the quantity of coal dust iu the water, but by two o'clock the shaft tunnel and coal which were stored on each side of it were almost bare of water, and the operation of removing the latter was commenced but was found impossible, and all that could be done was to rake it away from the safety valve. At half-past two the keel of th# vessel was fouud to be almost off the bottom but as the large pump had to be stopped to shorten the driving band the water again gained a little. About half-past three it became apparent that the combined action of the pumps would be sufficient to float her, but Captain Worsp considered it unsafe to venture into deep water so long as the lar»e pump could not be made to work to its extreme power. At this time it was only raising a third of the water it should do, and under these cirenmstances it was considered advisable to telegraph to Auckland for a man who had had experience with it. Jn the meantime the engineers are taking it to pieces again to test the points, and, if possible, discover where the defect is. It is Captain Worsp s intention to try again next ebb tide so that, if possible, she may be floated this i morning, in which case she will be beached by the pilot station. The depth of water taken out was between three and four feet I and when at the lowest the hull could be ' distinctly felt to rise and fall slightly with the motion of the waves. Wellixgtox, Tuesday. A raeelmg of Master printers including MrDidsbury, Government printer, was held | last night, at which a resolution was passed that henceforward the Welliugton Typographical Society be no loDger recognised, and that, a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the secretary of the Society Compositors have been engaged by the Wellington newspaper proprietors and are now on their way from various parts of the colony, so that in the event of the printers holding out against the masters no great inconvenience will be experienced, and the papers will be published as usual. A public subscription has been set on foot for the relief of the sufferers by the Kaitangata catastrophe. The Town Clerk collected £60 in about quarter of an hour. The enquiry into the alleged favoritism of certain Government officials in the disposal of a tender for furniture and fittings for Government house and buildings fell through this inoruiug, the complainant, a foreigner, refusing to proceed without legal assistance, liie Commissioners positively refused to allow further action to be taken. Ixvercargill, Tuesday night. The Southland Benevolent Society at its meetiug yesterday voted £25 for the relief of the sufferers by the Kaitangata mine explosion. A quarter acre section in Tay street, next to Price and Bulbes, was sold to-day by Mr Todd the auctioneer for £2000. Ciiristchurch, Wednesday. In the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church an overture from the Presbytery of Auckland re the filling up of vacancies, was referred to a Committee, ,'also the question of exchanges. A Committee was also appointed in reference. to the matter of collections. Hokitika, Wednesday. Arrived— Claud Hamilton. All important news has been anticipated by late arrivals. — Mr W. J. Clarke, President of tbe Exhibition Commission, gave a dinner in the Town Hall. The Governor about 400 guests were present. — The weather is very warm, and rain in some parts of the country is much wanted. i