COLLISION IN THE CHANNEL. THREE VESSELS DAMAGED. RETURN OF S.S. AUSTRALIA. Auckland, May 15.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 369, 18 May 1889, Page 6

COLLISION IN THE CHANNEL. THREE VESSELS DAMAGED. RETURN OF S.S. AUSTRALIA. Auckland, May 15.

A GOLLisroN occurred in Rangitoto Channol | last evening, Jattended by considerable damage to the s.°. Australia, the tug-boat Awhina and the American barque Essev It occurred about 7 p.m , the s.s. Australia, bound for the South from Auckland, colliding with the Auckland Tug Company's Awhina, and the Essex, which s>ho had in tow taking her into port. The mishap took place just outside the Rangitoto beacon. A little after 6 p.m. the Australia had left the Queen-street wharf for the East Coast with a general cargo and several passengers, while the Essex, which was from Brisbane in ballast, had been in tow of the Awhina since the o'clock. The night was very thick and rainy, but still not Loo dark for the vessels to see eacn others' lights us they approached. At about 7 p.m. the Australia struck tho tug and her convoy on the bow at almost th c same time, and t the barque's jibboom was carried away, together with some of her standing rigging. The Awhina was struck very heavily on tho bow, and hor stern was knocked partially aside, the planks being started, and she was found to be making water. The Australia also sustained a severe blow and had a dent made in the plates in her port quarter, while one of her boats was slightly crushed and the decking underneath started. The anchor of the Essex catching in her awning uprights, nearly tore them away. However, her injuries in all were slight, and she sails again for Wellington this afternoon. Captain Kemp was on deck on the Australia, and on the Essex Captain Schaube was at the wheel, Captain A. Campbell steeling the tug. Captain Sainty, the harbour pilot, was also on board the Es«ex, but, as she had taken the tug to com ey her to port, was not acting in his official capacity. When the vessels first made out each others' lights through the rain and darkness those on the Essex and the tug thought that the Australia would clear their bows by passing, but as she came up nearer it was seen that they would pass unpleasantly close to each other. Captain Campbell, of the Awhina, then gave orders to stop the ve&sel, but as the steamer was so close he gave the engineer the order to go " full speed astern." This had hardly been done when the vessels collided. As they came up to each other, Captain Sainty had the Essex's wheel put " hard a starboard," and the Awhina followed suit. The vessels came in contact with each other with such force that the towing lines between the barque and tho tug were parted with the exception of the stern, however, which waslet go, Captain Campbell shouting out that he wanted to beach his vessel on account of the injuries received by her. Captain Sainty then took charge of the Essex, and setting her under sail brought her safely into port and anchored her in tho stream off the Railway Wharf during the evening. Capt. Kemp turned the Australia's head to port again, considering this the most prudent course, and steering up the harbour again moored her alongside the s.s. Manapouri at the Queen-street Wharf. The accident seems to have occurred through a miscalculation on the part of those in charge of the vessels as to the distance they were apart when they made to cross each other. It is said that for some time before the collision the lights on board each vessel were distinctly seen. Captain Campbell had intended to beach the Awhina, but finding that the did not make so much water as was feared, he anchored under Rangitoto until daylight, the crew meanwhile iowing up to town in the tug's dingy. Mr Compton, the managing director of the Tug Company, immediately upon hearing of the occurrence, had got the little steamer Rotoiti under steam, and the ciew returned in her to the Awhina, taking with them canvas and other materials likely to be necessary to stop any leaks in her bow and hull. On reaching the Awhina they made all necessary contrivances for keeping the water from entering by her bows, and at daylight towed her up to town and berthed her alongside the Harbour Board breastwork. The tug appears to have been struck with great impact on the starboard bow, her stem being knocked completely to one side, but the construction of the stem prevented her from making water very 1 rapidly. This afternoon she will be docked for examination and repairs, which are expected to occupy three or four days. The barque Essex's damages will necessitate her docking and repairing also. She was struck bowa on by the Australia, and her stem was split right up, her jibboom curried away short, and various other minor damages inflicted. At first, owing to her damaged stem she made considerable water, bub its ingress was soon stopped by the commander's contrivances. To - morrow she is to be berthed at the Hobson street Wharf preparatory to going into dock for repairs An examination and survey of the damago will be made by Captains Clayton and Worsp, Lloyd's nautical surveyors. The repairs necessary will include a, fresh stem of pokutukawa, a jibboom, a stay, and other minor reh'tbings. She is insured in New York. On the completion of her repairs she loads hero with flax and kauri gum for "blew York. When the collision took place, although there must have been some alarm amongst the, Australia's passenger?, no confusion occurred and no shouting was heard, though considerable excitement on board the three vessels. The only wonder' is that on such a dark and rainy night, in a narrow ship channel, no more serious disaster has to be recorded. At noon to-day Mr Hill, Collector of Customs, held a private preliminary inquiry into the matter, and the evidence of the master mariners concerned will be forwarded to the Minister >of Marine at Wellington before further steps are taken in the matter of holding a pubjic inquiry into the cause of the collision.

"Yes," said Mrs Porcine. I'm, mighty, afraid of ghosts, but then I keep them away from me by wearing an omelet round my nepk." . '