“Fiona” Stranded

Mishap to C.S.R. Co.’s Steamer Near Suva

From Our Own Correspondent.

Suva, Nov. 28.

SOME excitement was caused in Suva on November 23, when the Colonial Sugar Refining Co.’s steamer Fiona, out ward bound for Sydney, piled up on the main reef near the harbour entrance and remained there until after midnight the following day.

The vessel was loaded with 1,940 tons of molasses and 50 tons of general cargo, and, as a result of the stranding, the molasses cargo had to be jettisoned before she could be got off.

She went on shortly after 7 p.m. at dead low water, and efforts to refloat her at high tide in the early hours of the next morning failed. Further attempts were made by C.S.R. tugs to get her off at high water in the afternoon, but though they succeeded in moving her some distance, she was still hard and fast when the tide began to fall. However, about midnight on a rising tide she was successfully re floated, and anchored in the harbour.

A Lloyd’s survey later revealed that other than a bent propeller blade she had suffered no damage and had made no water whatever.

The master (Captain V. G. Parker) told a nautical court of inquiry that he had mistaken what is known as the pile light on the eastern side of the harbour en trance for the Lami beacon. He picked up a light which he took to be the Lami light (which in reality was the pile light), and the result was that he navigated his ship on the wrong side of the beacon, run ning her into a patch of coral where the water shoals rapidly from six fathoms to one and a half fathoms.

The Acting Harbour-Master (Captain W. F. D. Hay) gave evidence that at the time the ship sailed it would have been most difficult to pick up the Lami light, and that the first light seen would prob ably be the pile light. There is little difference between them, both being white lights, the pile light having a five-second flash and the other a three-second flash.

The Court found that some blame was attributable to the master who had eom mitted an error of judgment in mistaking the lights. He was ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry, eight guineas.

Mr. Lindsav Laurie, of the staff of the Bank of New South Wales, at Wau, New Guinea, arrived in Sydney in November.

He has been transferred to one of the bank’s branches in Northern New South Wales.