STILL AGROUND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1939, Page 8

STILL AGROUND

FAILURE TO MOVE PORT BOWEN LINER SUPPOSED TO BE UNDAMAGED. ADDITIONAL TUG SENT FROM WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI. This Day. Efforts to free the Port Bowen on the midnight full tide were unsuccessful and she will be left as she is till the next high tide at midday today. The tug Kahanui began operations shortly after nine o'clock, and, though she was able to move the bows of the Port Bowen about eight feet, the vessel slipped back on to the sandbank where she remained firm at high tide (midnight). The tug Terawhiti from Wellington then put in an appearance and she immediately began combined operations with the Kahanui in an effort to free the Port Bowen, which had been bumping slightly under the influence of* a moderate swell.

It was not thought that the stranded vessel had suffered any damage. The Wellington Harbour Board’s tug Toia is to be sent to Wanganui from Wellington today to assist the Terawhiti and the Kahanui in a combined effort to free the vessel. The Kahanui returned to Wanganui at 1 o’clock this morning. The sea then had a moderate swell. KAHANUI DISABLED. HAWSER FOULS PROPELLER. WANGANUI, This Day. When hauling on the Port Eowen last night, the Wanganui tug Kahanui fouled her port propeller. Every effort made to clear the hawser so far has failed, and it is doubtful whether the tug will be able to put to sea and assist the Terawhiti to haul the stranded vessel off at high water today. Lightering is proceeding. Four boats are engaged in bringing in wool. The tug Toia has not yet arrived from I Wellington.. The sea is moderate, but rising. | A Wellington message states that the Toia left at 10.15 a.m. to assist in the refloating of the Port Bowen should the vessel not be got off in this morning’s effort. The Toia should arrive there about eight o'clock tonight.