WESTRALIA RE-FLOATED.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1920, Page 4

WESTRALIA RE-FLOATED.

A DISASTER AVERTED. TOUCHES ON AN ISLAND. VESSEL STEAMING TO MELBOURNE By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Hobart, April 14. The steamer Westralia, en route to Melbourne from New Zealand, ran ashore at 9 o'clock on Tuesday night on Clarke Island, Bank's Straits. There is a heavy south-east sea, but the captain is confident of hanging on. Assistance has been dispatched, including the destroyer Yarra, from Melbourne.

News of the Westralia mishap arrived by wireless late last night. The mes« sage stated that the steamer Loongana was sixty miles out from Launeeston when she received the call for assist* ance and immediately proceeded to the Westralia'* aid. She was expected tq reach the scene of the mishap at 3 o'clock this morning. o Received April 14, 8.60 p.m. Melbourne, April 14. The Westralia has refloated, and is proceeding to Melbourne under her own steam, accompanied by the Loonganft.--t Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Received April 16, 1.5 a.m. Sydney, April !♦, There are no further details of the Westralia mishap. Aus-N.Z, Cable Assn.

SOENE OF THE MISHAP. SEA STUDDEDWITH ISLANDS. The Westralia, which is owned by the Huddart, Parker Co., is a vessel of 2884 tons, and was built in 1898. She left Wellngton on April 3, in the command of Captain 6. Bates, for Melbourne, via South Island ports, and cleared Bluff on the 10th. She has become a well known vesfsel in the passenger service between Wellington and South Island ports and Australia. She first came -to New Zealand in the early nineties, and Captain W. Waller, now harbormaster at New' Plymouth, wag one of her early commanders. Captain Sates who is now in command, joined' the Westralia on relinquishing command of the troopship Zealandia at the crosr of '.he war.

The scene of the mishap ia very familiar to Captain Waller, and he ?avi» .;ome details concerning it to a Dully NV.va representative last night. A l'.ne drawn from Stewart Island to Melbourne would pass through a group of islemls which lie between the northern coast of Tasmania and the coast of Victoria. The sea is studded with islands here, and the main group is known as the Fourneaux Group. Clarke Island, on which the Westralia struck, is the southern-most of these inlands, and it is divided from tli? mainland of Tasmania by Bank's Straits. "The width of the Straits is about ten miles." said Captain Waller, "and the average depth is only about eighteen fathoms. It is a had island to ttt wrecked on, being exposed to south-ea?t gale.t, while there is a very dangerous bank running out about 4% miles."