Owing to the severe nip she sustained in the southern seas, her hull is strained, and she is taking in 7ft of water a day - a state of things that calls for the continual use of the pumps to keep the water down.
The loss of her rudder was also a serious menace to her safety.
She has come through it, however, and is now moored alongside the export pier at Port Chalmers, from which she will be shifted in a day or two to the small dock for repairs.
The vessel reached the Heads yesterday morning at half-past 5, and remained outside until half-past 9, when she came in, with the assistance of the Otago Harbour Board's tug Dunedin.
Prior to this hour a launch, having on board Dr Hodges (health officer), Captain M'Dougall (pilot), Mr Eager (Customs official), and Mr G. Fenwick (representing the London owners of the copyright of the ship's voyage), had ranged alongside the Aurora, and the gentlemen named has been taken on board.
The Aurora was Sir E. Shackleton's supporting ship.
She left Melbourne in 1914 for the purpose of pushing food supplies southward from M'Murdo Sound (on the New Zealand side of the Antarctic Continent), which will be utilised by him on the final stages of his trans-Polar journey; and also for the purpose of bringing him home should he have accomplished his task during the summer of 1915-16.
• Corporal W. Redman, one of the first in this district to offer his services, who was among those who made that memorable landing at Gallipoli, returned home a few weeks ago.
He spent close on five months on the peninsula, and was then invalided to England.
The public a short time ago tendered him a welcome home social.
• The subject of the excessive speed travelled by motorists was again brought up at last night's meeting of the Mosgiel Borough Council.
Instances were mentioned that, at race times particularly, motor drivers, not content with going at a good speed when they had a clear road before them, dashed round corners at a dangerous rate.
Several children, it was said, had had narrow escapes from being run over quite recently.
One member of the council stated that he was surprised during a visit up north to see the very slow pace at which motorists travelled, but the reason was soon made apparent by noticing that policemen were stationed at various points with watches in their hands.
It was resolved to bring the danger under the notice of the local police. - ODT, 4.4.1916.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
