AFLOAT AGAIN.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2672, 30 November 1909, Page 3

AFLOAT AGAIN.

THE UNION COMPANY’S TAVIUNI

One dark misty night, eighteen 1 months ago, the Union Company’s Taviuni, bound for Westport, overran the port, and’ ran ashore on the sea beach at the west of the harbor entrance. 1 Mr J. Daniel, the Union Company’s veteran salvage foreman,_ haß qff . and on/been engaged ever since in preparations to .replace .the steamer in navigable waters. At eight o’clock on Thursday morning last he succeeded. Originally an attempt wa6 made to launch the vessel seaward, but this <jourse was soon ascertained to be impracticable, and it was then decided to shift her along the beach, and launch lier through a cut in the breakwater into the river. ' ~ - ' •. . : COSTLY YVORK. Enormous and costly work was entailed' in. carrying out this scheme. For One thing, a breakwater fascines and timber. had to be built on the seaward side of the ship, and then the shifting sand provided a continued difficulty to* an extent never ahtheipated. . All sorts of drawbacks were encountered, and it is-do the credit of-Mr. Daniel and his sthu that they were one, by one overcome, and- that the undertaking has at last been brought to a successful issue. THE LAUNCHING. Mr Daniel was favored' with ideal conditions' for tho completion of his great task.""'The -weather wiiß beautiful and the sea and river as smooth as glass/r- From an early hour people had been gathering from all-quarters, and when the- ship glided into the stream severaL, thousand spectators witnessed the operation. 'The breakwater, on the tow aside, of the river was. the most popular viewpoint, but many crossed the river by train and motor launch to get a closer, view. . Tlje. scene was picturesque . and busy. In the foreground, reposing .in dignity on her, .cradle, was the TaviunC .which had become such a well-known land. mark. Above and below her .were lying the tugsMana andTerawhiti. Motor launchesdarted-here and there and rowboat 6. were plentiful. Basking.-ini the early .morning sunshine/ . were “deeply-ipterested spectators. Here: 'Tihd;-there cameras were to be. seen.; Early arrivals had some time to wait, : Mri Daniels did not start before.: he.’xyap : ready;. His., staff, had. been .at work from dawn completing ..final preparations, He awaitdd ..the'tide ..at .8.10 •a.m, A.’oouple of. . warning, :Winstl§s were heard, the last chucks knocked away, ..the anchor ..was .dropped, and in a moment she swung gracefully, m mid-stream., The actual work of launch- ' ring" was quite rapid, .simple,; and suc- , cessful from every, point of view. , CHEERS. ' The public were deeply interested. When it was seen that the vessel was afloat choere rang out from onlookers on both sides of the river, while Capt. Leech supplemented the Royal demonstration with a “hip' hip” blast on. the Mana’s whisfle. The. tug ranged alongside aud-the Mana then, took the TLaviuni in tow, and berthed her .at tho crane. wharf. ' FUTURE MOVEMENTS. She is to load 600. tons of coal, and, under command of Gaptain_ Collins, 1 will be towed by the Union Company s tug Terawhiti to Port Chalmers tor On every side it is recognised-that Mr Daniel has accomplished a great undertaking in saying the Tavium.