THE KAIPARA INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 26, 31 January 1910, Page 5

THE KAIPARA INQUIRY.

NAUTICAL COURT PROCEEDINGS. WHAT EFFECT HAD THE LIST! CHIEF ENGINEER'S EVIDENCE. The nautical inquiry into the stranding of the s.s. Kaipara in the Rangitoto Channel on January 14 was continued to-day in the Magistrate's Court. Mr. C. C. Kettle, SJM-, presided, and Captains W. J. Reed and C. F. Post acted as nautical assessors. Mr. Ridings, Collector of Customs, assisted by Captain Fleming, appeared on behalf of the Minister for Marin». Mr. T. Cotter appeared for Captain Cornwall, master of the Kaipara, and the New Zealand Shipping Company. Mr. R. McVeagh appeared to watch proceedings on behalf of the Harbour Board. The Board was not cited as a party to the inquiry, and Mr. McVeagh therefore did not cross-examine witnesses. When the Court resumed this morning, Mr. McVeagh, on behalf of the Harbour Board, intimated that the place -where .the Kaipara had been berthed at the Railway wharf was being kept vacant in order that the Court might secure the observations which the Court desired to see procured. Mr. Kettle: I should have thought those observations would have been made long ago—as soon as it was hinted that the Court wanted the information. Mr. Ridings: Who should have had the investigation made? Mr. Kettle: It is not for mc to say who should have had the investigation made. As soon as it was suggested that there had been possible damage to the Kaipara at the Railway wharf, and that she had struck an uncharted shoal in the harbour, investigation should have been made. A diver should have been sent down, and a complete plan of the whole thing prepared. Captain Reed: And also of the approach to the wharf. Mr. Kettle: Yes, that is so. Captain Cornwall, master of the Kaipara (recalled), stated, in reply to Mr. Kettle, that, the course he followed, and which he had since marked out for the information of the Court, the chart showed in one place the lettering "SJ, s. and s.", which meant that the bottom throughout was sand and shell. In reply to a further question, Captain Cornwall said that the draught of the vessel was taken frequently during the morning before the vessel left the Railway wharf. He had himself taken notice of what the ship was drawing, and just before the vessel left the wharf the chief officer and the carpenter took an accurate note of the : draught. "SOUNDING THE SEA." John Daniels, superintendent of repairs for the Union S.S. Co., stated that he had come from Wellington at the request of the New Zealand Shipping Co. He had examined the damages to the Kaipara. Mr. Kettle: What is the nature of the damage?— The plates are ripped and bulged. Mr. Kettle: Would any iron from the ship be left on the spot where she struck?— There might be rivets, but no iron. You have heard how rapidly the vessel filled after she struck. Is that coneistent with the nature of the injuries? —Where the carpenter made his soundings, he was simply sounding the sea. ' The plates were ripped right away where he made his soundings, and he probably dropped his lead right into the sea. Can you suggest anything in regard to the list?— There is nothing in the build of the vessel to account for it. She has a good, square beam. AN ANXIOUS ENGINEER. Frank Corbett, chief engineer, in the course of his evidence stated that he noticed that the Kaipara had something of a list when he commenced to coal on the Thursday morning. He first noticed a real list when they commenced to fill the bags of coal on deck. Witness went to the second engineer to ask him whether all the ballast tanks were hardened up. The second engineer replied: "They are all solid; I did it myself." Captain Fleming: Did you issue any instruction* to the foreman of the coaling gang in regard to the list?— Most certainly. We tried to straighten the vessel up by putting as much coal as possible on the port side. Did the list increase?— Yes; it still increased. You finished coaling on the morning of the day you sailed?— Yes. Did you notice any extra list during the night before?-—No, but during the night I got up and went to the second engineer's room' about it. He was asleep, so I did not wake him, but early next morning I said: "You are sure" those tanks are full? I thought ■we would straighten the ship up by putting coal to port, and instead of that she seems a bit worse." The second engineer replied: "Yes; they are quite solid." Mr. Kettle: You were worried about the list?— Yes. And you could not account for it?— No, except that she always had a bit of a list that way. Captain Fleming: Between 11 o'clock on Thursday night and 7 o'clock next morning you were worried about this list? —"ies; I was worried all the time. And you went and spoke to the chief officer about it? —Yes: I did. Was any suggestion made as to the cause of it?— No. COALING ON THE PORT SIDE. 1 How much coal did you take in?— About 48G tons. Was most of it stowed below on the port side? —We took about 70 tons in No. 3 bunker. That is in the middle of the ship?— Yes. : .. In the port ship bunker how much had you?— About 250 tons. And how much of that was put on the port side of the port ship bunker?— I could not tell you. Was the port side full up?— Yes; I filled up the side where there was no list. You had 40 tons more on the port side than the starboard?*-Yes. On deck aft how much did you have? —'About 184 tons. How much more coal did you have on the port side on deck than on the starboard' side?—Bo tons. DID THE LIST AFFECT THE CASUALTY? Mr. Cotter at this stage objected that so much time was being spent in examining the witness with regard to the question of the vessel's list. The Court had already announced that there was no question of the vessel's seaworthiness. The question for the Court to consider was what caused the casualty. It was not the list which caused it If the Court, wm satisfied that the list did not

cause the casualty they were only beating the air. He"~a<hhitted thalfftKiTenTect of this list- was , to give, the Kaipara a greater depth of ift 2in, Further than that, it had nothing whatever to do with the casualty. ■Mr. Kettle: The Court has -to inquire info the'question of whether tlii3 vessel could have gone out without this list, and as to who was responsible for it. Mr. Cotter: My point is that the liet had no effect upon the casualty which this Court is inquiring into. If" we take the draught at a mean of 27ft, how could it possibly have got over a shoal only giving a depth of 25ft 6in? The list had nothing to do with that. ' Mr. Kettle: The Court' considers the evidence in regard to the list must proceed. It is not a question of unseaworthiness, but of the extra, draught of 14 inches, and How that extra draught affected her leaving the/fort. Mr. Cotter: I request taat my objection be noted. It is that the effect of the list in increasing the draught by 14 inches had no greater effect on the casualty than if the ship had taken is sufficient cargo to increase her depth by 14 inches, and therefore could have had no connection with the casualty: The chief engineer proceeded with his evidence, arid stated that the list was equivalent to six or seven degrees. He felt no bump as the vessel left' the Railway wharf. The witness then left the box at Mr. Kettle's request to procure his log from the ship. ... . *;.' THOUGHT THE ANCHOR HAD RUN. Robert George Coyle, second officer on the Kaipara, stated that he had sailed out of Auckland once previously. If.waa part of his duty to supervise the vessel's loading.. On the Thursday evening he- first noticed that the Kaipara.was showing signs of a list to starboard. He did not call the chief officer's attention to the fact. The chief officer already knew about it. Witness could not make out what was causing the list. The stevedore was instructed to see that the heavier cargo was loaded on the port side. If did not seem to lessen the list: In fact, the list went on increasing. | Captain Fleming: Had the ship a list on the way out from. London I —Yes, a slight list to starboard. What was the lUt when you left the Railway wharf ? —Six to seven, degrees.. Did the list increase when you got away from the wharf?—A' little. Was the course you followed the same as that you pursued when you previously left the port of Auckland?— Yes, -the same course. Where were you when the Tessel struck? —In the chart room.' - • -- What .were . your sensations?—-I thought the anchor had run-away.-vlt was. like the sound of the chain running through the hawse-pipe. . • What, rate were you travelling at?— Not more than eight knots. Was the order immediately given .to stop?— Yes. *5-'" : Where werjiS 'you when she struck?— If she had kspt on her course she would have passed 2J cables on the*port side of the red buoy. '" '-. How far did she travel after striking, ■before she settled?— About a- ship's length, or a ship and a half: ••:-.- You took the bearings when 'she struck?—Y e=; the four bearings -were Mount Victoria, Eangitoto beacon, Cook's Point, and Bean Rock. The ship's head was set north. .' The boats were at once ordered out? —Yes. Mr. Kettle: Do you know, the' vessel's draught before leaving?— Yes; she was drawing 26ft for'ard and 27ft aft. Mr. Cotter: Have you travelled "in vessels with similar lists before? —Yes, more than once. You knew the list would cause a greater draught?— Yes. Would it ha.ye any prejudicial effect? —No. " Continuing, under examination by Mr. Cotter, the second officer said ne thought the list would have been righted within 24 hours. When he noticed the list, he placed the heavier cargo, consisting of gum and tallow, on the port side, and wool and flax on. the starboard side. In backing out from the Railway wharf he noticed nothing to cause anxiety. THE HIDDEN SHOAL. At this stage Mr. Kettle again asked what steps were being taken to locate this alleged hidden shoal, and to ascertain its position and extent. Mr. Ridinga: I understand that the Harbour Board and the master .of the KaipVra have, already done-that. We have taken no action. Mr. Kettle: But what steps are the Marine Department going to take, to locate the spot ? ' .. ' Mr. Ridings: The Department is taking no action. ' . .'■■'" Mr. Kettle: This Court Will riot close until it is supplied wifh'.full and accurate information regarding'the.-exist-ence of this alleged hidden shoal* or rock. -. . ~ Mr. Cotter: The Marine Department should accept the responsibility of such •n investigation. Mr. Kettle: Most assuredly- it should. Mr. McYeagh: In -doing so, I thfnk that a theodolyte should be used. The present bearings and positions have been proved inaccurate.' Mr. Cotter: Yes; m the Supreme Court action regarding the WairunaMbpnnh collision, the evidence astonished everyone; it proved conclusively that the chart could not be relied upon. Mr. Ridings: Two divers haye already been down. Mr. Kettle: On whose behalf? Mr. McYengh: One for the Shipping Company, and the other for the Harbour Board. • Mr. Kettle: We want the whole thing thoroughly examined by an .independent party, and the Marine Department should make that examination. We require coiriplete plans 'to be laid Jjefore VS. (Continued on page 2.)