COLLISION AT SEA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1922, Page 4

COLLISION AT SEA.

FERRY STEAMER AND SCHOONER. ACCIDENT NEAR LYTTELTON. MINOR DAMAGE SUSTAINED. By Telegraph Pre** Association. Christchurch, Last Night. A collision occurred at 4f15 this morning between the ferry steamer Maori and the auxiliary schooner Zita, about 45 miles off Lyttelton heads, -fortunately without any serious damage to either vessel. The Maori, was steaming along in clear water and was just approaching a bank of fog when the Zita emerged from the bank right in the path of the ferry steamer. Mr. Morgan, chief officer of the Maori, was on duty at the time, and he immediately went to ata-’-board. The Zita was under sail only, and those on board apparently thought they had not been seen, for they put the vessel to port, and before matters could be rectified file Zita collided with the Maori, her bowaprit striking the steamer on the port side, a few feet from the bow. The schooner wa* swung round by the impact. By this time Captain Irwin was :>n the bridge of the Maori, and after stopping the steamer hailed the Zita, but was informed that all on board were all right. However, the Maori -stood by for over an hour, and Captain Johansen, of the Zita, then announced that the schooner was making no water and be would proceed on his voyage to Wellington. The only damage to the Maori was a porthole smashed and paint work scraped. It was fortunate that the Zita struck the Maori instead of vice versa, otherwise the -sharp bow of the ferry steamer would undoubtedly have cut into the schooner and sunk her. The saloon passengers on the port side of the lowest deck of the Maori were considerably alarmed, as the schooner scraped and bumped past the port holes. Many arose and dressed, but there was nothing in the nature of a panic.