AN UNLUCKY VESSEL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3344, 24 November 1919, Page 3

AN UNLUCKY VESSEL.

CHAPTER OF _;._\IISFORTUNES. The Westlnol'el;zill<l_ on which a fire oe.cul'red in Timaru a few days ago, was built in 1915, and left. the West of England on her maiden voyage to thc Dominion about the middle of 15:11.7. Flue had to return. to port, however, owing to :1 mishap to her machinery. * .n - -» .=\.t'te.=' :1 fresli etari had been made. the steamer was attacked by a submarine anal Cnl_v escaped. being terpcetloell by iive feet. A (leSll'o_\-'ol‘ and :1 B‘l‘lii>?li Ina.n;6.>‘f-wan’ then escorted the \Ve.=t:noi-elancl through the danger zone. and .-Xuckland was evenl'u~ ally reaehetl on September 22, 1917, about =1 t'ortili_g‘ht after a. fire had been discovered in one of the holds. On .Monday, September 24, a beginning was made with the discharge of the‘ Auckland cargo from the hold, ‘the intention being also to locate and extinguish tlle fire. About six o’elocl< in th evening the fire broke out afresh in. a serious form, and ‘the brigade was sunnnoned. After several hours’ hard work the flaines were extinguished. It was es‘tiin7;lte(l that about £50,000 \\‘ol'th of cargo was «lest:-oy~ ed. On the return trip to England, the Vessel was torpedoed in the Irish Sea and greatly danizhgecl. This is the Westnlorelan(l’s second trip to New Zealland. She arrivenl at Aueklland on April 5. with the Maoii Bairvalion and general ear.-go for blow Zealand ports, When leaving the Bluff, on May 22, she l)ulnped,he'avily in the vicinity of Channel Rock. Her hull was badly da.ma,g'ed. and she 1'(‘.«?.(:l10(l Port Cll{lll'lll(‘I‘5 the next day with her ballast tanks leaking. From that date until a few days ago she has been at Port Chalmers under going repairs, which cost about ;:.'30,000.