EVIDENCE AT THE ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXiX, Issue 7729, 24 February 1909, Page 3

EVIDENCE AT THE ENQUIRY.

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON. February 23. Captain Fred Doathurst, of the Putiki, ami Captain James G. AVatson, formerly of the.Penguin, gave evidence as to their experiences m the Strait m reference to exceptional currents. They considered the course set by Captain Naylor a safe one. Arthur It. Thompson, purser on the Penguin, said that the ship's papers had boen lost. '1 here wu.s no'reliable record of the number of passengers carried. Witness wont to bed about 8.30 on the night of the wreck. He was aroused by the bump. Witness got ashore on a raft. Charles Jackson, A.8., said he had been three weeks on the Penguin. He gave evidence regarding the lowering of the boats. When the vessel struck, witness rushed to the bridge. The chief officer told him to go to the engineroom and see if the vessel was milking any water. On informing the chief officer that she was not, witness turned his attention to the boats. No. 1, he thought, was his boat. Mr Myers: You think so. don't you know? Witness. I wasn't m the boat drill long enough to know. Did no one tell you ?—I could not be sure, but No. 1 should have been my boat. No 2 was the first boat lighted. How many of you were attending to the No. 2 boat? —I really could r.ot say; but there wore some sailors and passengers. Mr Driscoll, the second officer, was m charge <;f the operations, and they worked like niggers to get the boat out. Nos. 2 and 4 were lowered to the rail by tho captain's orders. Hobcrt Stewart, captain of the Patet'Ma, said he left Wellington on February 12th for Nelson direct at 0 p.m. A moderate southerly gale was experienced as far as the Brothers. He'had expected to get tho last of the ebb about half way across; but when lie reached the Brothers be found that be must haye N had a fairly strong floodtide. He from Pic: ton the night of tho 11th. It way quite exceptional to meet abnormal conditions. By abnormal currents you mean about seven knots ? j Mr Myers: No, I don't. Supposing the ordinary currents were two knots, I should say an abnormal current would be four knots. Is there such a thing as a normal current:- —No, there is not. The currents were a bit erratic. That is, or ought to be, well known to everybody navigating m that locality ?— It is well known. AVitnoss said he'had experienced a five-knot current at spring tides, but not at neaps.' He had not experienced anything beyond three or four knots at neap tides! You would expect a stronger current than four knots m Cook Strait? — You get them stronger than four knots at times, but you cannot- anticipate them; you can only tell after you have made your passage. Mr Myers: It appears to me you cannot trust to one and a half hours. Witness: In this case there seems to be a marine earthquake or something. Mr Myers: You have a case m point? Mr Herdman: That is our case—a marine earthquake, or something else m point, something unprecedented. , Mr Myers: Is it not always set up as a defence when accidents have occurred m Cook Strait that they were due to abnormal currents?—No; an accident happened when the John Bell went ashore. It was a calm, moonlight night, when all hands were asleep. Mr Myers: AVhenever there is an accident m Cook Strait, is it not always explained by the abnormal currents? Witness said that when one vessel went ashore, it was not the current that put her there; whisky put her there. Mr Myers: I do not suppose that was the answer made m the Marine Court? —It's what was proved, afterwards. Dr McArthur: Concealed from tre Court ? Witness: It came out at the enquiry. Mr Myers: AVhcn was this? Witness: Before I was born, I think. Dr McArthur (sternly): Captain Stewart, do not trifle with the Court. AVitnes;: I am not trifling with the Court. Dr McArthur: You arc. You must not trifle with this Court. Mr Herdman here rose to protect the witness Mr Myers had been asking questions endeavouring to insist on tho witness saying that m the case of every accident which had occurred m the vicinity of the Strait the defence had been that abnormal currents had put the vessel ashore. Mr Stewart distinctly stated lie did not know of such instances. I propose to insist- on the right of my client m these proceedings. Dr MoArthur said what he objected to was that when witness was asked whether the current bad pi.it the vessel ashore, he had said whisky, and when asked when it took place, said it was before be was born. Mr Herdman: I feel m this matter, to protect Captain Naylor, that I. must insist that witnesses should be fairly j treated. ] Dr McArthur: He has been fairly treated. •Mr Herdman: You said he Mas trifling with the Court. Dr McArthur: So he was. Mr Hcrdr.uiu : 3t did not seem so to me. Mr Myers (to witness): Are you serious about what you said?—lt happened a long time ago. . Mr Myers: My reason for asking is that if it vms really so I would have the papers looked up ? —lt was over twenty yeai\s ago. The enquiry was not concluded when the Court rose for the clay. • WELLINGTON, February 24. Further evidence was given at the Penguin enquiry to-day regarding variations and strong currents m Cook Straits. Captain Vivkerman, master of tho s.s. Kennedy, stated that ho left AVellington for Nelson on the night of the 12th of February. When he reached the Brothers he found a terrific current running at least seven knots. Counsel for the Marine Department, stated that he proposed to let all six questions (telegraphed on the 17th instant) stand, with the exception of No. 2. After hearing tho evidence, he did not suggest that it was not safe to sail from Tory Channel on the night of tho wreck, and accordingly be proposed to substitute the following: " AYhether, under the existing weather conditions ai any time after ii.lo p.m.. shelter should have Ithmi anight or the vessel's bead put t<; ;;cn till the morning, instead of cciitlnuing on tho course to Wellington?" The following additional questions would also be added: (i) Whether, under the circumstances .vhown by the evidence, soundings should have been taken; and if no, after what time? (8) Whether it is nc.c.'ssary or desirable that coasting vessHs should be fitted with patent sounding gear? Captain Post, of the steamer Tutauekai, called by tho Court, said lie bad had considerable experience- of Cook Strait while cable-laying. Dr McArthur: By virtue of that experience, you know something of the tides. Witness: "i reckoned I did once, but I don't now. The tides should have been one way, and I found them frequently another." The strength of the tides (he added) varied considerably. Ono day lie found the tide rr.nniug seven knots of Terav.biti, an 1 i;cne at :il nest day. The patent sounding apnaratus was unr'n l! lit"'!ly superior to load, and w<>ii!-! '«■• ■' '■..'■r. ! ! u-c on oast mtr vfsy.'ls: but i » v. mild not go the length of .siying that it was absolutely nofessarv. The course set by Captain Naylor o:i (lit! night of Ihe wreck, under normal conditions, was a very sale one. Counsel: To what do you attribute the wreck ? Witness: 1. can only a-vy one thing — the act of God. Dr McArthur: "You mean by that, that you give it up?"' Witness: "Yes: something which cannot be accounted for." I