SUCCESS IN SIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 167, 2 December 1912, Page 3

SUCCESS IN SIGHT.

REFLOATING OF TIIE STAI.i OF CANADA. Reports the (lisborne Times:—Oat on the distressful Slur of Canada men are moving about 011 the greasy engine-room plates where on Monday the sea tossed many feet deep. Surrounded, as it were, oil three, sides by a of water, with the auxiliary' pumps keeping the enemy at bay, the sunken engine-room and stokehold, thickly covered with oil and grease, are yielding up their treasures one by one. Last night the ship's dynamo was triumphantly loosened from the bed-plates and hoisted merrily through the sky-light, and to-day work will bA commenced on the removal of the auxiliary dynamo engine, perhaps the forced-draught engines, and the great quantities of fairly easilv-movcd machinery which go to comprise the '"works" of a ship. Messrs Langlanijs commenced continuous pumping with a 0-inch pump at 9 a.m. on Monday, and at noon yesterday the engine-room bed-plate was reclaimed and the staff of engineers set to work on the removal of -the dynamo with the success referred to.

It is a dirty hole this engine-room, once trim with bright moving- rods and shafting gleaming in the glow of many electric lamps. Xow the beautiful engines are thickly covered with oil, though if one cares to rub this off it is at on'ce obvious that their long immersion in water has not damaged them one iota. It is surprising, but true nevertheless.'

The value of the salvable gear in the cngineroom may be computed at anything from £50,000 to £OO,OOO, and in addition to this 1200 tons of bunker coal and the valuable boilers are easily salvable at the present time, It is perhaps the greatest proof of Mr. Langland's confidence in his ability to refloat the vessel that he does not intend to seize what is in sight, but will remove only that machinery and gear which would not be necessary for the navigation of the vessel to Auckland in the event of the ship's coming off the rocks. Onee the auxiliary gear is brought to the decks the engine-room will be allowed to fill up again while final arrangements are made for the grand effort at salvage of the ship .as she stands. While the ship is full of water her stability is assured, and tlijs is an important factor in the event of rough weather. As the water was pumped from the engine-room great quantities of oil, which had be?n emptied on its surface, settled down about the engines, thus preventing rust.

"What we have done cmcisaid Mr. Langlands, referring to the pumping-out of the engine-room. "we can do again, and it is now certain that we can salve every bolt and spare pari in the engineroom. I should ha've 110 hesitation in allowing the engine-room to fill lip again, beeouse I know now that with about '27 hours' pumping with the gear on board I can empty her again." Shortly a diver will be sent down to make investigations in the fore part of the vessel, and perhaps on his report will depend the final fate of the vessel—whether she is to be stripped of all worth having or whether she is to be floated to the nearest do t ck for repairs. Whatever may be Mr. Langland's success in his final salvation effort, all will wish him well, and even tiiose who were most sceptical when lie undertook the task now admit a possibility of ultimate success. In any ease, Mr. Langlands is to be congratulated upon the success which has attended his work so far and the statement that his enterprising firm has already paid expenses ia the matter will be hailed with satisfaction.