H.—lsa

No. 19.—Return of Vessels surveyed for Seaworthiness— continued.

9—H. 15a.

65

Date of Survey. Name of Vessel. Where surveyed. Nature of Casualty, &c. 1911. .ug. 28 S.s. Cape Breton Dunedin This vessel was on a voyage from New York to Dunedin, via Durban, when on the 2nd August, 1911, a joint on the steering-gear rod carried away, straining three others and bending the pins. The vessel was encountering heavy weather at the time. On the 6th August 180 ft. of waterservice pipes and connections on deck were carried away, and the deck-house doors were stove in. On arrival in Dunedin new joints were made of heavier material and welded to the steering-gear rods. New water-service pipes and connections were also fitted. This vessel had arrived from London at the mouth of the Tamar River, Tasmania, and on the 24th July, 1911, was proceeding to Beauty Point under charge of a pilot when she went aground. She came off the same day by using her own engine and with the assistance of a tug. After discharging part of her cargo she proceeded to Port Chalmers and was docked there for examination. It was found that the E and L strakes on the port side were dented and a number of rivets started, .19 ft. of the bilge-keel was buckled, and several smaller dents were noticeable on the bottom. Twenty-five rivets were renewed at the junction of the E and L strakes of hull-plating. When moving ship in Gisborne Harbour on the 1st September, 1911, this vessel struck the wharf with her rudder, twisting and bending the rudder-stock. On arrival in Lyttelton the rudder was unshipped, straightened, and examined and found to have no flaws in it. The quadrant was keyed on square with the rudder, and the whole replaced. On the 13th September, 1911, on a voyage from Nelson to Collmgwood, via Bays and ports, this vessel touched a rock in Bark Bay. She was going dead slow at the time and did not lose any way. On her return to Nelson she was placed on the hard for examination. It was found that the rolling-chocks on each side amidships had been chafed slightly, but otherwise the vessel was undamaged. On the 14th September, 1911, whilst crossing the Patea Bar on a voyage from Wellington, this vessel took a sheer and struck the eastern wall of the breakwater. A southerly gale was blowing at the time. The lower part of the stem was twisted, two plates badly dented and cracked, and two plates slightly dented. The vessel returned to Wellington and was placed on the Slip. About 8 ft. of the stem was renewed, and two new hull-plates fitted on both sides of her stem. This vessel was shifting from the Taranaki Street Wharf to the Glasgow Wharf, in Wellington Harbour, on the 20th September, 1911, during a strong gale of wind. On nearing the Glasgow Wharf she dropped her anchor, but the wind caught her broadside on and slewed the vessel round so that her rudder fouled the wharf. The rudder-shank was twisted 40 degrees, and the steering-gear chains strained. A new end was welded on the rudder-shank, the hole in the quadrant trued out, and the shank refitted. All new chains on the port and one length on the starboard side were fitted, and two lengths of chain on the starboard side repaired. This vessel was on a voyage from Dunedin to Sydney. On the 30th September, 191.1, at Port Chalmers, a double intermediate main and auxiliary steam stop-valve chest on the port side burst. A new stop-valve chest was made and fitted. On the 9th October, 1911, as this vessel was entering the Bluff Harbour, on a voyage from Melbourne, the port propellor struck a patch of rock in the fairway, breaking off part of one of the blades. No repairs were necessary as the vessel had received no material damage. During the voyage of this vessel from Bunbury to Bluff, on the 14th September, 1911, it was noticed that the propeller was slack on the shaft, caused probably by the racing of the engines in heavy weather. The vessel was docked at Port Chalmers, when it was found that the propeller-shaft was damaged by the working of the propeller. A new port-propeller shaft was fitted. This vessel was moving away from the wharf at Napier, on the 17th October, 1911, for Westport, when, after swinging, the ebb tide set her stern on to the wharf, which was struck by the propeller, injuring all the blades. The vessel came on to Wellington, and was placed on the Slip and a new propeller fitted, ug. 28, 29 S.s. Waiwera Dunedin Sept. 5, 6 S.s. Petone Lyttelton Sept. 15 S.s. Hina Nelson Sept. 16 S.s. Mana Wellington Sept. 23 S.s. Komata Wellington Oct. 5 S.s. Orari Dunedin Oct. 9 S.s. Ulimaroa Bluff Oct. 11, 12 .. S.s. Whangape .. Port Chalmers .. Oct. 20 S.s. Lauderdale • Wellington