H.- 15a.

No. 16.—Return of Sailing-vessels surveyed during the Financial Year ended the 31st March, 1906, with Particulars of Tonnage, &c.

6—H. 15a.

41

'ons leasnremeni Name of Vessel. Gross. Register. Description. Times surveyed. Jexander Craig !lan MoLeod Clverland ranymede .. )nyx 'endle Hill .. 671 398 573 427 234 520 646 361 569 395 222 Barque Barquentine Barque Barquentine 1 1 1 1 2 1 for Sea , 31st Mai S, Ac, from the 1st April, 1905, No. 17. — Beturn of Vessels surveye to th« WORTHINB! •ch, 1906. Date of Survey. Name of Vessel. Where surveyed. Nature of Casualty, &c. 1905. May 8 S.s. Rotomahana Wellington After the vessel had been docked at Port Chalmers a slight leak was discovered in after stokehold on port side, about 3 ft. above bilge - stringer, on a voyage from Port Chalmers to Lyttelton. The damage to vessel's hull was repaired by bolting plate over defective part of hull plating. A length of vessel's main steam-pipe was found defective at the neck of a Pope joint. The defective portion was out off, and a new piece fitted. The pipe was, on completion of repairs, tested by hydraulic pressure before being put on board. Two of the vessel's main steam-pipes, the flanges of which were defective, were repaired by the flanges being rebrazed. After the repairs were completed the pipes were tested to 300 lb. hydraulic pressure before being put on board. One of the main steam-pipes of this vessel was found to be defective. The bad part was cut out and a new piece fitted in, and the pipe was afterwards tested to 320 lb. hydraulic pressure before being put on board. The bulwarks of this vessel were damaged by oollision with coal-hulk " Helen " in Auckland Harbour on the 6th July. The damaged portion of the bulwarks was straightened, and new plates were fitted where necessary. Whilst on a voyage from Greymouth to Foxton, coal-laden, and whilst crossing the Manawatu bar at midnight on the 20th July, vessel took the ground and drifted on to the south spit. All efforts to get the vessel into the ohannel were unsuccessful. The vessel bumped considerably during the night. After discharging some of the coal the vessel came off, and on arrival in Wellington was placed on the Patent Slip, when some two dozen rivets in forepeak tank were found to be loose, and the cement was found broken in this compartment. New rivets were put in and the cement was renewed, and vessel made thoroughly eeaworthy again. On the 25th July this vessel touched the ground outside of Dog Island, on a voyage to the Bluff. It was found, on surveying the vessel (from the diver's report), that the keel-plate on starboard side was dented up about § in. abreast of the fore rigging, and showed further signs of having touched for a distance of about 3 ft.; but all the rivets in the vicinity seemed quite sound on being tested. The vessel was considered seaworthy. This vessel was on a voyage from London to Dunedin, and when off Asoension Island on the 17th June, and steaming about 7 knots against a head wind with heavy sea, she touched what was thought to be ground, although the depth of water shown on chart at this spot would not lead the master to look for shallows there. The speed of the vessel was not affected, and only one slight bump was felt. The vessel was surveyed in Dunedin, and the following damage was found in No. 4 tank, which is under the boiler-hold— June 21 Waiwera .. Wellington July 11 Gertie Wellington July 19 Tasman .. Wellington July 21 Glenelg .. Auokland July 25 Himitangi Wellington uly 27 La Bella (sailing-vesBel) Bluff.. S.s. Kaipara .. Dunedin uly 27