THE WESTMORELAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10287, 23 May 1919, Page 5

THE WESTMORELAND

BUMPS ON ROCK EXTENT OF DAMAGE NOT YET KNOWN. - Press Association. DUNEDIN, May 22. At a late hour last night, Messrs Turnbull, Martin and Co. received advice that the steamer Westmoreland, which left the Bluff at 6.15 p.m. yesterday, with the intention of proceeding to Wellington, had struck ground pretty heavily while leaving the south, em port. She was believed to be making water, but continued her voyage, the intention of her captain being to bring the vessel to Port Chalmers, where docking facilities will he available. " A later message states: The Westmoreland reached Port Chalmers at 9.30 this morning. On leaving the Bluff last night she bumped heavily in the vicinity of tfio channel rock, which is said to be the same place where the Kfitght of the Garter sustained damage a few years ago. _ The Westmoreland evidently sustained serious damage as her ballast tanks in numbers one, two, and three holds were filled with water. There is also w leak in the engine-rooni. Number six tank near the stern was previously _ filled with fresh ’ water which'is now is salt, indicating a leakage there also. Tho Westmoreland, which is practically a new ship, is on her second voyage to the Dominion. On her last voyage she was on fire in New Zealand, and on the trip Homo was torpedoed near the English coast, and beached at Whitehaven, where she lay for three months, the subsequent repairs taking about nine months. The Westmoreland is now about three-quarters loaded with frozen and other produce, most of which was loaded in Australia, and which will ho discharged at Port Chalmers before the steamer docks for repairs, "and which, are likely to he fairly extensive. INDICATION THAT CARGO IS UNDAMAGED. ■ DUNEDIN; May 22. The discharge of'the Westmoreland’s cargo commenced this afternoon. .Present indications are -that the cargo is undamaged, but-this will not he definitely known till it is clear of bottom holds. It is probable that the vessel’s frozen meat will be transhipped to the Kemuera, which is due on Friday, but the Harbour Board’s freezing works may resume operations for the purpose of storage.-Thd efctent of damage to the vessel will-not be ascertained • fully until the cargo is discharged.

The Westmoreland loaded all her cargo at . Bluff. . . It .comprises 31,961 carcases mutton, 39,016 carcases lamb, 1356 quarters beef, 1153 crates rabbits, 1201 packages sundries, 649 casks tallow, .75 packages rahhjt. skins, 14 bales horsehair, 1200 sqpks grass seed, 3525 cases preserved meats, 2924 bales wool, 910 bales hemp, .815 bales tow, 18,213 crates cheese.