WRECK OF THE BRIG KATE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 668, 20 May 1865, Page 3

WRECK OF THE BRIG KATE.

An inquiry took place on Monday last, before B. Chilman, Esq., Collector of Customs, and one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace, touching the loss of the brig Kate, some particulars of which appeared in our issue of Saturday last. The following evidence was adduced : —

William Sinclair, on oath : I was master of the Kate of Sydney, she arrived in the roadstead from Newcastle on Friday, the 28th April, with a full cargo of coals and general merchandise. At daylight I hoisted the usual signal for a pilot, who in about two hours afterwards came on board, and on his telling me he was an appointed pilot I gave him charge of the vessel. The ship was brought up with the best bower and sixty fathoms of chain, at the same time every precaution was used by making a new warp fast to the chain as a slip rope. The weather continued fine until Wednesday, the 3rd May — up to this time I was only supplied two days with lighters to discharge cargo. At 5 p.m. this day the Harbor Master signalled to stand to sea, when we along with other Bhips made sail and stood to sea. We slipped, the buoys being on both anchor and chain . On Friday, the sth, the weather moderatod and the barometer rising, we again made for the anchorage. At 2 p.m. let go the second anchor to windward of the best bower. Got hold of the slip rope on the end of the first chain, hove it up, but being chafed on the rocks the warp parted. Paid to on the second anchor forty-five fathoms of chain. I then went on shore to see if ihe Harbor Master could give me any assistance to pick the best chain up, but was told that they could not do it that evening, as it was too late. The ship had a third spare anchor and chain on board, so that I considered she was quite safe. At half-past 7 p.m. I saw them make sail and stand to sea, the pilot being on board in charge. The weather was threatening with a strong breeze from N.W. I consider it was very prudent for the vessel to put to sea, (one of the anchors and chains being lost). I saw the vessel stand off and on the land on Saturday and Sunday. I saw her no more until I was told by tlie second officer on Wednesday morning, the 10th instant, that she was on shore. With much difficulty I succeeded in getting a crew to go in the lifeboat to the vessel — after Captain Holford promising the men £1 each. I got to the vessel about 5 p.m. and found she was high among the rocks. At daylight on Thursday the 11th, Mr. Atkinson, who is Lloyd's agent here, the Harbor Master, Mr Brewer of the Customs, and myself went overland to the vessel. We got alongside in the boat, when we found the vessel full of water nnd hogged on the starboard side. The Harbor Master and Lloyd's agent recommended that everything that could be saved should be and that the hull should be immediately sold for the benefit of all concerned. A quantity of the sails and the boats were saved, and the vessel sold. The pilot was on board and in charge of the ship from the 28th April until she was wrecked.

Cross-examined by the Collector of Customs t When I applied for the lifeboat I went to the Superintendent, when he told me he had no control over the men in the Government boats, and could not give me any assistance. He said I had better inquire of the Harbor Master, who said he would use his influence with the men, but upon his asking them they would not assist in any way — not even to launch the boat. The coxswain, Francis, who was beach-master on that day, (Cameron being absent) said I could not expect the men to leave off work when they were earning 15s. a day, and might be there all night. I told them there were five men and the pilot on board with only a small boat, and that I was very anxious to get to the vessel to take them off. Afterwards Capt. Holford and myself and with the five men that, came up from the vessel and some townsmen launched the lifeboat, and got to the wreck and found that all the men had got ashore. It took about five hours to go to the vessel and return. When we launched the lifeboat the men of the surf boats were on the beach getting their dinner, but with the exception of one man they did not give us any assistance. The men gave me to understand that neithter the Superintendent or Harbor Master had any control over them. I produce the ship's register. She was insured at Smyth's Sydney Marine Insurance Office for £2500. She was four years old and well found in every respect. The Insuranoe will not cover the value. We will lose from £500 to £600 on her. I was half owner, I ' owned the cargo with the exception of the rum. I believe it was insured, but I cannot state positively, as I left it to my agent in Sydney. I believe the freight is also insured. >

Samuel Simpson, being sworn, stated •• I was mate of the brig Kate. The vessel anived in the roadstead on the 28th April, the pilot came on board and brought the vessel to anohor, with the best bower and sixty fathomsjof chain ; bent a slip rope of a now (JJ inch hawser. We remained at anchor until the 3rd May, when the weather looking threatening we slipped. On the sth May we returned to the roadstead and came to with the small bower, run a line to the slip buoy on the best bower cable and hove in the slip rope ; tripped the small bower anchor and in heaving up, the best bower cable parted the slip rope, it being chafed on the rocks. Immediately after the slip rope parted, we let go the small bower with forty-five fathoms chain, and at 6 p.m. had the spare anchor on the starboard bow and the cable bent. About 7*30 p.m. the wind increasing and a threatening appearance, made sail, slipped the small bower cable and stood out to sea. We stood off and on until Wednesday, the 10th inst., when the vessel grounded about 5 a.m.; tried all possible means to get the vessel offshore, but to no purpose. After daylight despatched the second mate and four hands in the longboat to Taranaki. About 11 a.m. the wind set in from the N.W. with rain. The pilot, myself and the remainder of the crew got on shore in the jolly boat about 2or 3 p.m. Lloyd's agent and Mr. Brewer, of H.M.s Customs, came overland, and being low water managed to board the^ vessel. Cut away the sails and other articles, and*succeeded in getting them on shore. The following day I came up to Town. At 5*30 p.m. on Tuesday, the 9Ji May, the vessel was heading off shore . Wind variable from S.W. to S.S.W., Sugar Loaf bearing $.W., White Cliffs East § North, by compass, with fine, wind light. "During my .watch from 12 to 4 a.m. of Wednesday, the 10th instant, light winds and variable. The vessel was quite unmanageable the most part of my watch, not having steerage way. At 4 o'clock I was relieved by the second mate, and remained there until the vessel struck.

By the Collector : The pilot did not remain on deck during my watch, but came up occasionally. The weather was fine when I left the deck, but getting dark as the moon was going down, but I conld see the shore all my watch on deck. I tried to keep the ship's head offshore, as there was a strong current setting the ship towards the land ■as I thought. I did not use the lead at all during my watch, as the vessel seemed to be a good distance off shore. >

Hbnrt Munn, being sworn, deposed : I was second mate of the brig Kate. The vessel slipped her anchor on Monday, the Bth instant, owing td bad weather, abd stood to sea on the starboard tack, the pilot being on board and the captain on shore. We stpod on the starboard tack until about half-past 11 p.m., and continued standing on and off until Wednesday evening, when we were off the White Cliffs, about fifteen miles from the land, the wind S.W. and light. JAt 9 o'olock Wednesday night the wind light variable, bearing from S.E. to S.W., shortly ajfter the wind set.steadily in from' the N.Ei until about 11 o'clock. At 12 o'clock we had a light breeze from the sea, At 4 o'clook a.m. on Thursday I took charge of the watch, the pilot being then on deck, thick weather with no wind, but a strong current setting in to the Northward. At 5 o'clock we got a b'ght breeze from S.E., but there was not enough for the vessel to work with — quarter-past 5 we got into a heavy swell setting us on shore, with no wind. Hove the lead, and did not get to sound* ings. Half-an-hour afterwards we struck with seven fathoms water under our keel. The wind came strong from tho $he -S.W, immediately after we struck, tried to wear the vessel round, but could not do it. . Fayed her off again before the wind to get a little headway on her. She went ahead for nearly twenty minutes, put her in stays, she touched by the heel. The wind increased

very strong from the S.W. and drove her right up on the reef. We had all sail set, the wind was squally and weather thick. When the vessel struck the first time, her head was about S.W. by W. JW. We sounded the pumps and there was no water in her. We clewed up all sail except the lower topsails, and got the boats out. I then left the vessel in the long boat with goods belonging to the captain and men, and went on board the Choice, then at anohor in the roadstead. I left at quarter to 7 o'olock a.m.

By the Collector : We had not tried the lead before quarter-past 5, as we did not think we were so close to land. We did not cast the lead again until we struck the first time, when we had seven fathoms. We did not cast the lead afterwards. We had our anchor on board with forty, five fathoms of chain. ■ Ie was on the bows ready to let go. When the vessel Btruck tho second time, we let go the anchor and veered out about sixteen or seventeen fathoms of chain. The pilot was on deck the whole time after I took the watch at 4 o'clock. From 9 o'clock p.m. to 11 o'clock p.m. the vessel was heading S.W. by W. J W. We let go the anchor to check the vessel, but it did not hold. Captain Gibson, Harbor Master, sworn, stated : The Kate arrived here on Friday, the 28th April, The pilot boarded her and brought her to an anchor. She remained at anchor until Wednesday, the 3rd Muy, when I signalled her to stand to Bea, as" the weather was very bad. On Friday, the sth, the vessel came back and anchored closo to her former*nchorage. She left again the same night between" 8 and 7 o'clock, as it came on to blow again from the North. The captain come on shore to arrange with me about getting the boats to weigh the anchor formorly slipped, but it was too lute to do it that evening, and shortly afterwards the vessel slipped and went to sea again. On Sunday, the 7th, the vessel stood close in to the long reef, and I made signals for her to keep to sea, as there was a very heavy sea on. She did so and I saw her again on Monday. It was still blowing strong. I signalled to her to make more sail, as I saw the set of the current was taking her to the Northward, but the signals were never answered. This was about 2 o'clock p.m., she was then between the anchorage and the Waiwakaiho reef, she then wore ship and stood to the westward. I saw her no more until she was on shore. Before I knew the vessel was on shore, I saw the captain of the Queen, who told me he was afraid the Kate would be on shore, as she appeared to be in shore as far Northwards as the White Cliffs, and that he had great trouble in keeping the Queen off on account of the strong current setting in towards the N.E. shore. This was on Tuesday, the 9th May. I went down to the wieck overland on Thursday, the 11th inst., and held a survey with Lloyd's agent. I found the vessel with her back broken and bilged, the tide ebbing and flowing into hor. We advised that the sails and everything that could be got out of her should be landed and the hull sold at once.

By the Collector : About sixty tons of coal and some malt had been taken out of the Kate before she slipped. I think the pilot was quite right in slipping the second time, as she had only one good anchor then. If my signals on Monday had been answered I meant to have told them to make more sail so as to keep to windward, as I saw they were losing ground every day. Hod they done so they would have been more to windward. I remember Captain Sinclair applying to me about the lifeboat, and I went to the boats' crew to get men to go, but they refused, as they were discharging the steamer at the time — and said they could make more money than by going to the wreck. I told the boatmen that Captain Sinclair was afraid the five men on board the vessel had not got on shore, and that he was anxious to go down to bring them off, but they still refused. I went to Captain Holford and he got a crew for the lifeboat, but none of the men lent a hand oven to launch* the boot, with the exception of two men who volunteered to go in the lifeboat ; one belonged to tKe regujar boats' crew, and the other was on dailjt wages— these helped to launch the lifeboat. Thomas Francis was in charge, of the boats on that day. Cameron was absent at the White Cliffs. I have no authority over the men to order to any work. I went to the Superintendent after the men refused to go in the lifeboat, but he said that neither myself or himself could interfere with the men to order them to go. The only control I have over the boating establishment is to see that the boats go to the vessels in their proper turns, and they ai'e not damaged. JOHN Hoggarth, Pilot, being sworn, stated : I boarded the Kate on Friday morning, the 28th April, and bronght her to an anchor. She remained at anchor nntil Wednesday, the 3rd May. Just as the signals were going up at the flagstaff I was getting ready to slip, as the weather was threatening. We put to sea and stood off and on until Friday, the sth instant. We let go the second anchor close to the slip buoy, and in hauling the cable on deck the slip rope parted. We then let go tho second anchor again immediately. At about 7*30 p.m. we slipped, the second anchor and went to sea, as the wind was freshening from the Northward and the barometer falling. We then stood on and off until Monday, when I came in to the roadstead again, but finding there was a very heavy sea I did not think it prudent to anchor, as we had only a stream anchor onboard. I saw signals were flying on the flagstaff, but could not read them, the weather was hazy and thiok. I stood off to sea again, intending to come in again in the morning at daylight. At midnight made all possible sail, the vessol was heading S.S.E. and S.E. The wind fell quite light and the vessel got quite unmanageable. On Tuesday morning we were a long way off the land, at least ten miles. At daylight I found the vessel hod drifted considerably to the Northward with the current. There was very little wind, first from the land and then from the sea, baffling. The wind continued light all day and variable. Used all endeavours to got the vessel up to the" Southward, but could not make any way, as the current set us to the Northward. At sundown the White Cliffs were bearing about E. about ten or twelve miles from us. Wind light and baffling, inclning to head off the land. Through the night the wind continued light and baffling. I woa on deck at intervals all the night. About 5 o'clock a.m. on Wednesday, the weather became very hazy, the moon about setting. The wind right offthe land, the vessel scarcely answering her helm and the sea smooth. At thjg.time I sent the' second mate aloft to see if hd could see anything of any light on shore. He reported that he could see none, and conld not see any broken water. He said ho thought we were a good distance off the land. 1 asked him if the lead was about, and ho said* " Yes it was all clear." He hove the lead and said he had no bottom. I told him (the second mate) to keep a sharp look out. The vessel was then heading about S.W. by W. Soon afterwards I felt the vessel strike. I told them to heave the lead, and the second mate did bo, and said there was five fathoms. Directly after that she Btruck again, and I told the man at the wheel to put her helm up. Ho said she was nil aback and coming round against her helm. I then had all handi called on deck. ThKvetsel was jstill paying off with her head towards the land, striking slightly all the time. A light air from, the, South. After she got her head offshore the* second mate wa4 keeping the lead eoing all the time. The wind died away. Suddenly the wind came in from the N.W., strong breeze with rain— got the sails trimmed, the vessel heading N.E. The vessel then struck again, and I told them to haul up the mainsail and lower the top-gallant sails, but by this time she; Was. on shore. I told them to get the boat out, and the mate to let go the anchor, as soon as he could, which he did. I then told the second mate to go to Town in the^ long boat, which he did with four men, I remaining on board with the remainder of the crew. About 10 o'clock a.m., finding the sea beginning to break heavily, I wont on the shore with tho remainder of the crew. On Friday I- came iup to Town, finding nothing could be done with the wreck. By the Collector : The third anohor -was hot so large as the other two w.e slipped from, it had forty -five fathoms of chain. The lead was hove before tho vessel struck the first time, there was no bottom. . After welet go the anchor the vessel drifted right in shore, it did not bring her up at all. It waa the strong current and the light baffling winds that drove the vessel in shore. I had co idea we were so dose in shore.

Thomas Francis, Boatman, being sworn, deposed : I was in charge of the boats on the beach on Thursday, the 11th instant, Duncan Cameron being absent in the steamer Wanganui. Captain Gibson, the Harbor Master, came .to me on the beach and said he was going down to the wreck. He afterwards came to me and said we should have to man the lifeboat to go to the wreck. I told him I did not think there was sufficient sea on for the lifeboat to go down, and that we had seven men at work on the beach discharging tho Airedale at fifteen shillings a day each , and that I wished to know what was to be done about their pay if we went to the wreck, Captain Gibson did not give me any answer, but went away. I told Captain Gibson that there were plenty of men, Commissariat boatmen to be got, but he said that would not do, that the regular boatmen must go. The boats' crew did not appear willing to go because they were at work discharging the steamer, and tho other men at work would have been knocked off, but would have to be paid. It was noon when Captain Gibson applied to me, and I thought it was too late in the day to go down in the lifeboat, as the days were short, we should not get there before dark.

By the Collector : Captain Sinclair told me that there were five men on board the wreck, and therefore he was anxious to go to get them off. I told him that we had the work on tho beach to attend to, the mails and passengers to put off, and that we had men at work at fifteen shillings a day. The captain said he did not wish us to work for nothing, and that we should be paid for what we did. Four or five of the men that were at day work assisted to launch the lifeboat after Captain Holford had got a crew. Capt. Gibson has no authority over the working of tho boats. If the Superintendent had ordered us to go to the wreck in the lifeboat, we should not; have felt bound to obey his orders, as we consider the working of the boats to be entiroly in our own hands. In my opinion when the Choice signnllod about the wreck at 8 o'clock on Thursday morning, if the captain or Harbor Master had gone to the wreck in the whale boat, they might have rendered more assistance than wo could have done by going down in the lifebont when I was applied to, as there was very little sea on.