THE STAR OF CANADA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8359, 20 February 1913, Page 8

THE STAR OF CANADA

REFLOATING PROJECT ABANDONED. Press Association. GISBORNE, February 19. Iteesrs Langlands and Co., after duo deliberation, nave decided to abandon their attempt to refloat the Star of Canada, but will forthwith “skin” the vessel of everything of value that it is possible to take at a reasonable cost. Negotiations have been pending with a Wellington engineering film which proposed to undertake the contract of refloating the vessel and placing her in the Port Chalmers dock, but the deal was not completed, and will now go no further. At a rough estimate it is considered that to refloat and refit the Star of Canada to anything approaching her original condition would cost £30,000, and the venture being one in which the issues are uncertain the amount named is considered rather a “tall” sum to leave on the scales of speculation. Mr Langlands has a 12inch and a 10-inoh centrifugal pump ready for use on the steamer and has secured an old locomotive boiler from the Public Works Department and an engine to provide power. The steamer, itis said, can be pumped dry in about twelve hours. The engine room will be depleted of any article of value which'can be handled with the power available, and it is anticipated that 12,000 tons of coal will be got from the bottom of the steamer.