THE GROUNDING OF THE HINEMOA AND HAWEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3392, 14 June 1881, Page 2

THE GROUNDING OF THE HINEMOA AND HAWEA.

(BY TBLEG.DAPII, OWN CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, this day., At the enqruiry into the grounding of the Hinemoa aiid Hawea on Manukau bar, Thomas Hillj collector of Customs, Captain Johnston staged that when the Hincmoa arrived off jtfanukau the weather was thick, aud ti: it no land could be seen. Tbe baromete: indicated the approach of a westerly gale. At 10.30. he signalled the Hawea to know when he intended to get under weigh, and received the reply "At noon." The tide at that time would be about three-quarters Hood. He determined to follow the Hawea in, because he considered that Captain Kennedy, trading so long in and out of the Manukau, had a better notion as to where they were when they got under weigh. Tho lead waa constantly going. The Hawea crossed the ' Hinemoa's bows to the North, steerin" about two points to tho North of™ where we were leading. In a quarter of an hour after on looking at the Hawea, he believed her to be aground. Immediately stopped and went full speed astern, fearing at the same time that the Hinemoa was also aground, as her screw was turning up mud. At the same time Nine-pin Rock was made out, and witness knew his exact position. Owing to the strong flood tide making the over-bank, there was some difficulty in getting the vessel into the channel. He dropped anchor and remained there about an hour in order to give assistance to the Hawea if possible. On following the Hawea the water shoaled two fathoms which made witness think they were approaching the bar when in fact they were on the edge of a bank. After waiting an hour and finding the Hawea drifting from us to tbe north over the bank towards the main channel, so that if witness waited until the tide changed no boat could pass between them, and also that the Hinemoa would have been in danger if she did not get in that tide, he got under weigh with the object of getting the Lalla Rookh to render assistance. The Hiuomoa drew the same depth of water as the Hawea, 12 feet C inches. Met tbo St, Kilda and requested her master to assist the Hawea, informing him that she was aground. Captain Kennedy, of the Hawea, stated that-after leaving New Plymouth, the wind came strong from east to north-east, moderately clear weather, with occasional showers. When the steamer anchored in the morning it was blowing strong from northeast with showers. When the showers came on, the weather was thick, but witness could make out the lower part of the South Head, but indistinctly. Pie had no other reason for anchoring except that of waiting for the tide, because he was confident as to the position ot the vessel. He got under weigh about noon, the engines going quite slow. He could not see the heacous, but could make out the South Head. It was witness's constant practice on entering the Manukau Harbour to place two men — one on either side with the lead, and he did this ou the last occasion. They were stationed immediately the vessel got under weigh. After proceeding a short distance, a dense rain-squall obscured the land. The water, shortly afterward-, began to shoal, the lead giving first 3J fathoms on both sides, three fathoms, and finally two fathoms. On the hrst indication of shoaling, the engines were stopped. He next went full speed [a-stern, but the flood-tide setting to the northward took the vessel over more on to the bank. He could not, at this time, see twice the length of the vessel, owing to the thick ram-squall. The vessel then took the ground. The engines were kept going a-stern,- and kept her trom going farther in shore. She was on the ground about two hours when she floated off into deep water. Directly she grounded, witness sent the chief officer in the boat to sound all round, but by the time the boat had come back, the weather had cleared, and witness could see tbe beacons, aud kuew the exact position of the vessel, The Hawea grounded on a bank in Fanny channel,

G. Chappel, chief engineer ; Mr Lausley, chief mate ; Mr Thompson, second officer ; and John Bird, seaman, gave similar evidence.