Damaged steamer Tasmania in dock

The New Zealand Shipping Company’s cargo steamer Tasmania, which was damaged while entering the Bluff Harbour last week, arrived at Port Chalmers yesterday to be docked for repairs. The vessel grounded when nearing the Bluff wharf on a falling tide in the morning, and was floated off on the flowing tide in the afternoon. The extent of the damage has not been fully ascertained, and will not be known until the steamer is examined in dry dock.

Her bottom plating has been pierced in number 3 tank or double bottom, but the inner plating is intact and the pumps, it is understood, are successfully coping with the leakage.

She has on board between four and five thousand tons of cargo, most of which consists of ore concentrates shipped in Australia.

A considerable quantity of the cargo will have to be discharged before the Tasmania can go into dry dock. The Union Company's cargo steamer Kaimanawa, which has been on the idle list at Port Chalmers for some time, will be hauled alongside the Tasmania, and the cargo transferred to the Kaimanawa’s holds.