WRECK OF THE SCHOONER ZIOR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 245, 13 October 1908, Page 5

WRECK OF THE SCHOONER ZIOR.

NAUTICAL INQUIRY. At the Magistrate's Court this morning, before' Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., and Captains Crawford and Read, a nautical inquiry was held into the wreck of the schooner Zior, which occurred off Takatu Point at 11 pjn. on September 30. Mr Selwyn Mays appeared for the Collector of Customs, and Mr John Alexander appeared for Manuel Diaz, tho master of the ill-fated vessel. Manual Dia.i, master of the Zior, said he had been sailing in New Zealand waters for 40 years. He left Auckland on September 30, about 10 a.m., bound for Whangarei in ballast. He had with him as crew three A.B's. When he got outside the wind freshened a bit, and a sea got up. When out of the Whangaparau Channel he put tho schooner about, and stood out clear of Tiri. He left the deck about 9 o'clock and went below. About 9.40 he came up again, and everything seemed all right, and the vessel was making a good course. He then went below again, leaving a seaman named Victor Ohlson at the wheel. There was no other person on deck. About a quarter to 11, Victor called him to come up on deck. "We ■will have to put the ship about." He at once came on deck a*td proceeded to put the vessel about, but she would not stay at all, simply came off the wind, and stuck there, and drifted stern first on to the rocks. AfteT striking, she swung broadside on, and began to fill. He got the boats out. and all hands off, and landed round the point. Tho next morning he went overland to the wreck. The weather was then very bad, and they could not get near her to save any of the gear. The Navua was passing, and he waved his hat to the roaster to go on to Auckland. The Zior became a total wreck. He had always had trouble with her through miss-stav-ing. On the day of the wreck she missed stays several times. On that account he always gave the land a wide berth. Had witness been at the wheel, he would not have stood so close in to the land as Ohlson did. If he had been called earlier, he thought he conld have worn her round. To Mr Alexander: When he went below, the vessel was clearing Takatu Point. On the email vessels it was not customary for more than one man to be on deck in fine weather. The man at the wheel could keep a good look-out. This wa-s the first accident that had ever happened to any boat under his control. Gnstave Victor Ohlsen, the A.B. who was at the wheel at the time of the accident, said that his instructions from the captain were not to go too close to the land. When the captain went below witness considered the Zior would have, passed Takatu by a quarter of a mile, even allowing for a lot of leeway. To Mr Alexander: It was the practice iv vessels carrying less than five hands for one man only to be on deck in fine weather. That was considered a pro-pen look-out. Evidence was also given by another A.B. Mr Alexander said that if it was to be held that two men must always be on deck, then these small vessels could not proceed at night. (Proceeding.)