TAHITI MAY BE ABANDONED AT SEA

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1052, 16 August 1930, Page 1

TAHITI MAY BE ABANDONED AT SEA

VESSEL LOSES PROPELLER MAKING WATER IN ENGINE-ROOM WIRELESS SILENT FOR SOME HOURS TWO SHIPS SPEEDING TO SCENE rE head office of the Union Steam Ship Company in Wellington has received a wireless message from the master of the Tahiti that it may be necessary to abandon the vessel tonight and take to the boats. A Press Association message from Wellington states that water is gaining in the after part of the vessel. Strenuous efforts are being made to cope with this, but it may be npr.essarv to consider abandoning the shit) tonisht.

The Island steamer Tofua and the Matson liner Ventura are going to the Tahiti's assistance. Both vessels have been communicated with by wireless.

The R.M.S. Tahiti, with 12S passengers on board, has broken down 160 miles off Rarotonga. Her port propeller shaft is either fractured or broken and at last advice this morning water was flooding the engine-room and some of the holds. Apparently she has lost a propeller and is drifting.

Since early this morning there have keen no radio messages from the Tahiti. Radio communication in the tropics is difficult, but it is believed that water has flooded the en-gine-room to such an extent that the engines have stopped and also the generating batteries. The mishap occurrt when the Tahiti was about 160 miles from Rarotonga, which she would have reached some time today, according to her schedule. Apparently the mishap occurred soon after midnight, as the first information received in Auckland came via an intercepted wireless message. Messages came at infrequent intervals after that until about 4 o'clock since when no information has been received. The Tahiti left Wellington on August 12 on her way to San Francisco, via Rarotonga and Papeete. According to her ordinary time-table sho would have reached Rarotonga some time this afternoon or evening. There are no boats near the vessel at present—the nearest being the Tofua and the Ventura, neither of which can reach the Tahiti until Monday. The Tofua sailed from Suva yesterday afternoon for Nukualofa and has been diverted. The Ventura left Pago Pago, American Samoa, on Friday for Honolulu. There are no dangerous reefs in the vicinity of the Tahiti and there is no confirmation of rumours and alarmist reports circulating in the city that the passengers have taken to the boats. In all probability the pumps will be able to cope with the inrush of water and ss tne weather is moderate there can be little danger. The Tahiti carries a number of prom-

inent passengers, including Bishop Bennett, who is on his way to spend a holiday in the Pacific, Sir Hugh Allen, who has been conducting musical examinations in New Zealand, Mr. H. F. Ayson, resident commissioner of the Cook Islands, who is returning after spending some time in New Zealand, and Mr. Hector McQuarrie, who is on a world tour by motor-car. CREW OF 148 In addition to her list of 128 passengers the Tahiti carries a crew of 148 officers and men. She is commanded by Captain A. T. Toten, one of the best-known officers of the Union Company’s fleet. The Auckland office of the Union Steam Ship Company does not expect any further news of the Tahiti until this evening, when radio communication will be easier. Following are the first and second saloon passengers who embarked at Wellington by the Tahiti last Tuesday:— Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Andrews and child, Mr. I-I. F. Ayson, Sir Hugh Allen. Bishop Bennett, llr. A. J. Brass, Mrs. Jackson and infant, Miss L. 11. Jennings. Mile. Le Jeune, Mr. Matthews. Mr. H. McQuarrie, Mr. and Mrs. Oxlade. Mrs. S. E. Robinson. Mrs. Steel. Mr. A. Tobiasson. Mr. H. R. E. Black, Mr. A. Brooks, Mrs. S. Brooks, Mr S. H. Bailes, Mrs. S. Hunt, Miss O. D. It. Humphries, Miss K. F. Hickson, Mr. F. M. Jacobsen. Mr. Jellfs, Mr. King. Miss K. B. Lister, Mrs. B. Lilly, Mr. a. E. Laffey. Miss J. Lane. Mrs. I. Lansing, Miss McClymond, Miss R. Mayor, Mr. 11. R. Petersen, Mr. C. E. Rackliam; and 24 third-class.

The Tahiti Is a steel twin-screw steamer of 7,898 tons gross register. She is owned by the Union Steam Ship of New Zealand, Limited, and was built in 1904 at Glasgow by A. Stephen and Sons, Limited. She was previously named Port Kingston. The vessel is at present engaged in the Pacific mail service, running between San Francisco and Sydney via Papeete. Rarotonga and Wellington It is stated that the Wa'pahi, now in Auckland, has received orders to stand by in case her assistance should be required.