The Karori is a vessel of 1863 tons gross register. She is under the command of Captain Hopkins, who is well known in shipping circles as a most capable navigator. The vessel left Newcastle at 7am on Tuesday week and on Friday the wind increased to a heavy gale, with high seas. She shipped a good deal of water, which flooded her decks fore and aft, but no damage was done.
The ship arrived in the Lower Harbour at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. At full tide, as the Karori was negotiating the narrow channel between Quarantine and Goat Islands, the wind caught her bow, and she suddenly sheered towards Quarantine Island. Before the helmsman could rectify her course she grounded. The vessel did not remain fast, was able to continue on her way up the channel, and was berthed at the Birch street wharf shortly before 11am.
After the Karori struck the vessel was making water at an alarming rate, the influx being at the rate of a foot in 20 minutes. With the aid of the ship's pumps, the engine-room and stokehold were kept fairly dry until the wharf was reached.
The fires in the stokehold were extinguished before noon; at 2 o'clock there was 20ft of water in the engine-room, and her decks were awash. The vessel had a list to port until the tide began to recede, when she straightened and lay on an even keel.
The ship's hull is now resting completely on the harbour bottom, and until sufficient water is pumped out of her to enable her to float, the extent of the damage will not be ascertainable by a diver. The vessel is laden with 2,500 tons of coal consigned to the Railway Department.
One of the crowd
One of the most interested visitors at the Christchurch Show on Thursday (says the Press) was his Excellency the Governor-general. He evinced a lively interest in all sections of the show, and in characteristic manner succeeded in making himself one of the crowd. This led to an awkward moment on the part of one attendant. While the judging of dairy produce and cookery was in progress, one back door was left open. An elderly gentleman sauntered through, and was greeted by a remark from the attendant. "You can't come in here yet, mate!'' Then his Excellency's staff and others accompanying him arrived on the scene. The Earl of Liverpool appeared to enjoy the situation better than anyone else.
New blood wanted on Pitcairn
The American steamer Andrea F. Luckenback, on its last voyage from New Zealand to London, stopped at Pitcairn Island and bartered a quantity of old clothes and other articles for fruit. Captain Macdonald states that the islanders were very anxious for new blood in the island, and made offers to any decent sailorman to go ashore, marry one of the island girls, and settle there.
Cocaine replaces alcohol
The cocaine habit has developed in America since prohibition became law,'' said Mr Robert A. C. MacPhail. "In fact the drug habit would appear to be the worst of all the evils that the American legislators have to contend with.'' - ODT, 19.11.1919.
