SAILING DAYS OVER?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 913, 5 March 1930, Page 7

SAILING DAYS OVER?

REWA IN DANGER OF SINKING HARBOUR BOARD WORRIED The hull of the old barque Rewa. which has been anchored in the upper harbour, off Birkenhead, since August, 1922, is in a very bad state. It was suggested at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday afternoon that the vessel might become a danger to navigation. The board s engineer, Mr. D. Holderness, in his report on the subject, stated that plates on the port side of the Rewa were eaten away by rust and that there was a hole through the hull just above the waterline. The whole of the hull above the waterline was very badly rusted, and it was impossible to tell how* bad the state of the hull really was. She might spring a leak at any time and sink. The engineer advised that the agents for the'barque be instructed to take some action and have the vesse’ removed from the harbour—otherwise she might become a danger to navigation. The chairman of the board. Mr. M. H. Wynyard, said tliat in company with the harbourmaster he had visited the Rewa. They found the hull in a very bad state. At one place, three feet above the waterline. Mr. Wynyard said he was able to put his hand through a hole in the rusted plates. It was difficult to say how far the vessel could be towed. The agents for the vessel had communicated with the board, saying that they were attending a meeting of directors of the company interested in her and that afterward they would advise the board what action they would take. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman and superintendent to deal with, as urgent action might be necessary.