ACCIDENT TO THE MARAROA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 71, 20 April 1909, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO THE MARAROA

DISCOVERED IS' TIME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. I Christchurch, Last Night. This morning, while the engines of the ferry steamer Maniroa were being examined, the startling discovery was made that the thrust shaft was 'broken right across. There had been uo previous intimation of the fracture, and the vessel made good steaming time on her last run down from Wellington, the engines working well and without a hitch. The .Mararoa left Wellington at 11..") p.m. On Saturday and. reached Lvltelton at 11.10 a.m. yesterday. The bleak in the shaft is a somewhat extraordinary one. Usually a fracture in a vessel's shaft is a longitudinal or a diagonal one, and in that case it is possible to put a patent coupling on, but in the case of the Mararoa, it would have been impossible to have done this. It is probable that had it not been discovered this morning, the break would have made it presence felt when the vessel made a start to leave the wharf. Had the vessel got away to sea before it was discovered, the break would have rendered her helpless, and she would have gone adrift. The manager of the Union Steamship Company states that the break is a very serious one, and will probably keep the vessel in port for a week while a new thrust shaft is being titled. As there i« no other vesH available to-day to take up the rtnmiu" of the Mararoa, there, will he no ferry steamer leaving Lyttelton for .Wellington to-night. The Union Company lias, however, made the necessary arrangements t„ enable the ferry service to be maintained after to-day. The Waikare. i leaving Wellington to-morrow nMit, will await the arrival of the northern express, and will sail at 8 p.m. for Lyttelton. The Maheno. leaving Lvttclt'o.l lor Wellington on Wednesday ovenin« will await the arrival of the first express from Dunedin. The Pateena will leave Wellington on Thursday night at 8 o clock, and will continue hi the ferry service until the Mararoa is ready to resume running.