THE WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXiX, Issue 7730, 25 February 1909, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

EVIDENCE AT THE ENQUIRY

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, February L>-t. The examination oi Captain Po:st, of the Government .steamer Tutar.ekai, was continued. j To Air Levi: If the patent sounding gear had Keen used on the Penguin on the night of the wreck while going full speed, he was afraid the rocky bottom would ha vo/ torn it out of the" ship. Re-examined by Mr Myers: Witness was confident the vessel was wrecked on Tom's Hock, and that the captain was ■ mistaken as to his position at 9.80. EXCEPTIONAL TIDAL (TR RENTS. Ernest Robert Stewart, master of the Kaituna, said he came through the Strait on February J2. and passed The Brothers at 1,80 a.m. on February V-i. The speed of the Kaituna was 9£ knots, and he travelled (aided by the current) from Cape Campbell to The 'Brothers at the rate of fourteen knots. The fastest trip the ship had previously made from Cape Campbell to The Brothers was twelve knots. Mr Tlordman also put the Penguin case to this witness, and asked him if m a ship doing twelve knots and allowing two knots for the set of the tide and travelling eighteen miles on the course set for the Penguin, would lie continue on if he could not see any lights? Witness: I would have continued on my course till I thought I- was about five miles off Pencarroxv. And if you could not, then pick up Pcncarrow?—l would put out to sea. To Mr Myers: He knew that the tides m Cook Strait wore, erratic. He would not say it was generally known that the tides m Cook Strait were very erratic. It was known that they varied, but there was a limit. Mr Myers: J)o you consider, know-' ing this, that an allowance of two knots when you have lost your hVhts is sufficient. ' ° Witness: Yes. I consider it is an ample allowance. Captain Henry Fisk, harbourmaster and pilot at Wairnu, stated thiit he knew the Strait well. On February .2 and February 13 he noticed unusual conditions. The s.s. Kin! was anchored m Cloudy Bay, and swung to a flood tide from Friday, at 2 p.m., til! Saturday evening. On Sunday she swung to the ebb tide. In the river a tremendous current was running, more than he had seen during the five years lie had been at Wai ran. Captain Fisk was recalled by Mr Herdmnn. He said he saw the Opawa on the Saturday morning after the wreck She appeared to be a long wav out of her usual course. Witness had never known such a tide as he-experi-enced that day. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE KITTAWA. Captain J. J. Pennington, master of the Kittawa (1246 tons),' who steamed from Lyttelton to Wellington on February 12, said he was off Cape Campbell at 1.52 a.m. on February 13 He ivas steering N.E. half JE. and altered us, course,to N.E. quarter E. magnetic or the entrance to Wellington h.irl>our. This course brought him to Perawhiti. At 4.35 he could just see :he loom of the lan 1, and got a bearing with Karon Rock right ahead. He .vas about six and a half miles out of us course, and attributed the fact to l strong north-westerly set m the tide. Ln all his experience on the coast ho lad never experienced such a ret m she tide. BLENHEIM CARRIED OUT OF )I.Jilt COURSE. Captain W. J. Carey, master of the Blenheim, said that he left Wellington )u February 12 at 4.15 p.m. for W^aiFrom Pencarroxv Head, he steered 3.5. W., that was m a straight line for Sinclair Head. He next steered S.W. 3y W 7., which gave him a straight line 'or the White bluff or five miles southward of the Wairati bar. Witnessed an:icipated that he would make land ibout 11 p.m., but was called at 9 p.m., yhen land was reported a mile away. saw the Opawa's lights about the lame time. The land he first saw must lave been the Geordie Rock. Mr Herdman: What distance is that Tom your original destination? Witness: About ten miles from the me of my course. The tide drove you out of your course ibout- 13J miles altogether?— Yes. Continuing, witness said ho had had i lengthy experience m the Strait. The course usually steered from Tory Chanlel for Wellington was E.S.E. A course 3.E. by E. would be an exceptionally safe course under normal conditions." To Mr Levi: A steer oar was better than a rudder m a boat m a heavy sea, but-he did not think an inexperienced band could make proper use of a steer sar. He thought most of the sailors and the officers m the Union Company's service woidd be able to manage a steer oar. A steer oar could be used on a boat loaded with passengers. He could not say whether a sea anchor would be preferable to a steer oar Mr Myers: Did you speak the Opa xya ? Witness: No. A QUESTION OF SOUNDINGS. ■ Captain Eckford, of the Opawa, said he took soundings that night, and got twenty-three fathoms! Can you find twenty-three fathoms on the chart m the vicinity of Geordie Rocks?— No. Mr Myers: Perhaps we can get the time. There is something peculiar about this. Captain Eckford says he xvas much further south. J)r- McArthur: Does Captain Eckford not say that be was never near the. Geordie Rocks-' Mr Myers : Yes. Mr Herdman said ho could see twenty-three fathoms marked at different places on the chart. Captain McDonald informed him that the nearest soundings m some places were eight or nine miles from the shore. In reply to Mr Myers, witness persisted that his statement as to the locality m which he found himself was correct. Counsel pointed out that Captain Eckford, according to his evidence had taken soundings at 10.30 on the Friday night.