H.—lsa

50

No. 17.—Return of Vessels surveyed for Seaworthiness— continued.

of Survey, (fame of Vessel. Date of Survey. When. 1 surveyed. Nature of Casualty, eftc. 1906. Dec. 15 S.s. Penguin Wellington Dec. 22 . . Westland (sailing vessel) Wellington Auckland When leaving the Queen's Wharf. Wellington, on a voyage to Pic-ton and Nelson on the 14th December, this vessel collided with the Taranaki Street Wharf. Several frames were broken in the counter, and several plates were fractured at same place. A hole was also made in the rudder-trunk. All the damaged portions were cut out and renewed before vessel left the port. This vossel was on a voyage from London to Nelson, and on entering the latter port in tow on the 13th November the vessel touched bottom entering the new channel. On arrival in Wellington the vessel was placed on the Patent Slip on the 22nd December, and after survey it was found she had sustained no damage. During the process of docking this vessel at Auckland on the 27th November, the vessel shifted after taking the blocks in the dock, necessitating the vessel being refloated, taken out again, and the dock pumped out. It was found that the blocks had shifted. The vessel was redocked, when it was found that the bilge-keels were set up about 4 in. and about sixty rivets sheared in the web-plate. Repairs were effected, making the vessel seaworthy, while the vessel was in dock. llec 2!) . . S.s. Mamari 1907. Jan. 4 .. .. Torgauten Jan. 10 . . ,. Navua Jan. 18 .. Himitangi Jan. 22 ,, Indraghiri Jan.. 25, °>8, 29 , ., Storm .. I Lyttelton Auckland Wellington Auckland Port Chalmers I When swinging in the Greymouth River on a voyage to Lyttelton this vessel collided with the s.s. " Kennedy," moored, at the wharf, and carried away her staunchions and boat's davits. These were replaced and made good in Lyttelton. The main stop-valve spindle connected with the steam-connections of this vessel carried away when vessel was on the point of sailing for Fiji. On a survey being made it was found necessary to fit a new valve-spindle to replace the defective one. At survey on the Patent Slip, in Wellington, seve-ral rivets were found to be loose in the forepart of hull. Altogether fifty rivets were renewed tinder the forepeak tank, and angleiron stiffeners were riveted fore and aft across frames in tank, and a new chafing-piece was also riveted on under aperture. One length of the main steam-pipe showed signs of fracture at the flanges on a voyage from Liverpool to Auckland. Repairs were effected to the damaged portions, and the pipe was afterwards tested by hydraulic pressure to 400 Hi. per square inch before being placed on board. Whilst the vessel was on a voyage from Westport to Wanganui with a cargo of coals, on the 16th January, and when crossing the bar of the Wanganui River, she bumped heavily, then stuck fast ror some hours. Vessel eventually was floated off, and proceeded to the wharf. After the cargo was discharged a survey was made of the vessel, when it was discovered that the stern-post was broken at the 10 ft. water-mark. Temporary repairs were effected, enabling the vessel to proceed to Port Chalmers, where she was docked. At the survey in dock it was found that the shank of the rudder was broken, the sternpost bent, and about five hundred rivets loose in the bottom plating of the vessel under the forehold. The defective rivets were renewed, and the rudder repaired; also temporaryrepairs were effected to the stern-post, making the vessel seaworthy. A new stern-post is being made at Port Chalmers, which will be fitted into the vessel when it is ready. This vessel put back to Lyttelton with main steam-pipe fractured on the 26th January. The pipe was taken out, repaired, and tested by hydraulic pressure to 3501b. per square inch before being placed on board. I i. fan. 29 Pukaki .. Lyttelton j