Nukualofa.

"Matua" Hits Reef At Nukualofa.

WHEN she was entering Nukualofa Harbour, Tonga, on February 9, the Union S.S. Co.’s motor-ship “Ma tua”, struck a submerged reef. The im pact caused damage to the after part of the ship and the propellers.

The exact cause of the mishap is not known, but it is believed to have been due to a ch,ange in the buoys marking the difficult eastern entrance to the har bour.

An inspection of the vessel was made, but the full extent of the damage could not be ascertained. It was apparently not very serious because the Wellington (N.Z.) office of the Union Co. announc ed that the “Matua” would complete her itinerary, visiting Samoa and Fiji before returning to Auckland about February 21.

She will then proceed to Wellington to go into dry dock for survey and repairs.

Built specially for the Central Pacific service, the “Matua” is a twin-screw motor vessel of 4,193 tons. Under Captain A. H. Prosser, she has carried on a ser vice between N.Z., Cook Is., Tonga., Sa moa and Fiji since 1936. She is 355 ft. long with a beam of 50 ft. and a depth of 21 ft., and she has accommodation for 40 passengers.