On 30 January 1931 Niagara collided with a concrete wharf in fog as she came into berth at Vancouver. Eight steel plates of her bow were damaged. Repairs were estimated to cost £1,500, and were completed in time for her to begin her return voyage on schedule. After she reached Sydney, Niagara was dry docked at Cockatoo Island on 2 March for further repairs. King Egbert On the evening of 17 July 1935 the cargo motor ship King Egbert collided with Niagara in fog in the Strait of Juan de Fuca about off Victoria. Niagara had just left Vancouver, and her passengers included the Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph Lyons. Both ships returned to port for survey. King Egberts bow was stove in, and Niagaras hull was damaged above the waterline on her port side forward, abreast of her number one hold. The Wreck Commissioner took evidence from the Masters of both ships and found that neither was to blame. Niagara was dry docked at Esquimalt for repairs. She returned to service on 1 August and reached Auckland on 19 August. Firework explosion On 27 October 1937 Niagara was at a wharf in Darling Harbour having 300 cases of fireworks loaded into her number two hold when one of the cases exploded. Dock workers were blown through the air, five were injured, one later died of his injuries and three others were treated in hospital. Windows were broken more than 200 yards away. The fireworks had been made in China, arrived on the steamship Nankin and were being transhipped at Sydney for export to Fiji. They were of a type that can be detonated by shock, and which were banned in New South Wales. The remaining cases of fireworks were removed to Bantry Bay Explosives Depot. Wireless developments When Niagara entered service she was equipped for wireless telegraphy on the 300 and 600 metre wavelengths. Her original call sign was GBE. In 1925 the Amalgamated Wireless Company built a new, powerful shortwave beam wireless transmitter for her that was installed when she was overhauled in Sydney from February to April 1925. That April and May, Niagara set new wireless records by transmitting and receiving signals to and from both Australia and Canada throughout her voyage to Vancouver and back. While moored in Vancouver she sent a signal to Pennant Hills, New South Wales, and on her return voyage from Vancouver