[YESTERDAY'S EXTRA] COLLISION BETWEEN TWO UNION BOATS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 388, 10 December 1889, Page 3

[YESTERDAY'S EXTRA] COLLISION BETWEEN TWO UNION BOATS.

BOTH VESSELS DAMAGED. Chbistchuboh, Saturday night. Information has just been received that a collision occurred off the Lyttelton Heads between the Rotorua and Orowaiti. Neither vessel was sunk, but bo h ware injured. Particulars are not yet to hand. Larsn. The Rotorua, for Lyttelton, and Ihs Orowaiti, for Westport, collided in a thick fog off Kaikoura, at a quarter to three this morning. Neither vessel was seriously injured. The Rotorua left Wellington at 6 o’clock last night, The fog horns were going all night. Captain Neville was on the bridge. He saw a light first in front, and heard the tog horn. He instantly slowed tbe engines. The Rotorua was almost at a standstill when the collision occurred. Several passengers rushed on deck, and for a time there was some excitement. In fifteen minutes it was found there was no occasion for alarm. The boats were got out and all preparations were made for saving lift. The vessels remained by one another for an hour. The Rotorua's bows were cut down from the decking to near the water lino thirteen feet through four plates, Some seamen were shaken out of their berths, but not injured, The Rotorua arrived at Lyttelton to day, and the Orowaiti was coming in. The Rotorua goes to Dunedin on Monday to be docked.

Ths Rotorua's injuries ata on ths starboard bow. Tbe Orowaiti’s port bow is more seriously injured. She was in light trim. All her injuries wars W'll above ths water line on the port bow sld>. Her elds is rant away from ihe deck to four or five feet from tbe bow. Ths wheel, pistes, and beams have been started. From about twelve fast from the foremast has been carried eway, No personal injuries are reported, ANOTHER VERSION.

WA serious collision took place last night between the steamers Rotorua and Orowaiti. The former left Wellington at six and the latter left Lyttelton tor the West Coast yesterday. All want well till three o'olock this morning, when in a dense fog the Orowaiti struck the Rotorua forward, and cut her down to the water's edge, and fihplqced about twenty feet of bulwarks. The Botorua began to make water, but the bole was plugged and the pumps set to work, and the water did not gain. The fog was dense, and for on houf both steamers moved round to ascertain the extent of each other's injury. The Captain of the Orowaiti said his boat was injured, and that he was returning to Lyttelton, and they oould not get into closer communication owing to the dense fog. Both steamers oame on to Lyttelton. Tbe water did not gain in the Rotorua, as the sea was very calm, and the injury went little below the water line. The Rotorua arrived at Lyttelton at 12.15; the Orowaiti Is not in yet. There was a dense fog all the way to Lyttelton, The boats were promptly got ready on tfie Rotorua for any emergency, and the passengers and women behaved with the utmost coolness,