STEAMER COLLISON AT WANGANUI.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1018, 6 April 1883, Page 2

STEAMER COLLISON AT WANGANUI.

The following appeared in yesterday's Herald : The steamers Tui and Kennedy collided just outside the bar this morning, but, fortunately, neither vessel sustained serious damage. It appears that the Tui took the bar first, but, through some cause or other, she overran the beacons, and had to put put to sea again. By this time the Kennedy was in the channel, and Captain Williams concluding that the skipper of the Tui would again attempt to take the bar, kept on his way. Captain Pope, however, put farther out to sea, crossing the channel immediately in front of the Kennedy’s bows. Captain Williams, perceiving what was about to happen, reversed the engines and put the helm hard a-port. A collision, however, could not be averted, and the Kennedy came nearly stem on, striking the Tui amidships on the port side. . The shock of the collision was. severely felt, and had the Kennedy come dead on instead of partly gliding off, the consequences would have been very serious. The Tui suffered the most severely, a large dent having been made in her side, but • the plates were sufficiently strong to withstand the shock. The bulwarks of the Kennedy suffered but slightly, the force of the collision having bent the plates a little, ;but not sufficient to displace or break them. An enquiry will be held, and Pilot" Irvine, who was an eye-witness of all that took place, will submit a report.