STRUCK THE WHARF

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19904, 5 June 1936, Page 8

STRUCK THE WHARF

5.5. WAHINE DAMAGED. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SERVIOE. .\IARAMA PLACED IN COMMISSION. (By Telegraph—Press Association) \\'ELLINGTOX, Friday. The express steamer Wahlne, from Lyuelzon. thls morning suffered a mlshlp In running Into the Plpltaa Wharf. There was a dense fog In the harbour when the Wahlne came in. This places ihe two most modern ships in the ferry service—the Rangiiim (which was badly damaged on February ‘2) and the \Vahiue—out of commission.

The Union Company is meeting the exigency by placing in the SEI‘VICB at a moment's notice the Pacilic mail steamer .\iarama. which has been laid up at \\'ellington for a considerable time. The .\larama will take over the \\'ahine's running to—night. leaving at 10 p.m.. and will continue the service till further notice. The Pipitea \\'harf is a modern ferro< concrete structure. The \\‘ahine apparently has penetrated it to some depth. She was not freed until shortly before noon. The concrete structure had to be cut away by means of acetylene. The passengers were landed soon after the mishap by a gangway from ‘the bows. l A TERRIFIc GRASH. i AN IMPENETRABL EFOG. l l 1 N 0 TRACE or PANIC. ‘ Tele“rnhh.—Presn Aqsoristlon.) t (By 'WELLINGTON, Friday. ‘ Torn and splintered piles. gaping steel. and powdered concrete testified to the terrific impact that occurred when the \Vahlne, groping her way in a. dense fog, struck the Pipltea Wharf shortly before 7 o‘clock to—‘day. The main reinforced concrete of the wharf withstood the collision. but the steel plates or the. under part of the vessel‘s how were rivcn sheer, leaving the \V‘ahlne’s nose on the wharf for a distance of 20 feet. \\’hen it was seen that a crash was imminent both rudders were-b rousht into commission, hut it was too late to avert a calamity, and the 44364011 steamer was halted with a protracted grinding impact, and she shudderett for fully 30 seconds. When the \Vahins was steaming up the harbour the dense white fog was penetrable for only a few yards. An early worker walking along the Pipitea Wharf saw the murky how of a vessel dragging a tunnel through wisps or mist. He expected a late turn but the steamer continued on her course and struck despite the hurried use ot the how rudder. l A Startling Jolt. The vessel Canadian Constructor was berthed at the same wharf about two yards away, and it was fortunate that a more grave mishap did not occur. At, the first startling polt the passengers were tossed in their cabins, and many ran to the deck in their dressing gowns. Some who had been sleeping did not know whether or not the vessel was still at sea, but there was not a hint of panic, and everything was done to assist the. ship‘s officers. The two tugs, e’l‘rziwhiti and Total, the first pushing and the second pull—ing from the stern, strained for about four hours, but succeeded in moving the vessel only a foot. 1 (my-acetylene lamps were finally employed to cut awn}~ further portions of the plates, and the steamer was freed later in the morning and berthed at Fryatt Quay. i Cannot. be booked. The \Vahine cannot be clocked immediately as the dock is occupied, and will remain occupied for about another week by the Kalingo. which was damaged at Greymouth on May 24. l The \‘Vahine is not making water, land as far as is known, is not damagei lhelow the waterline.