THE LOST SATARA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 101, 29 April 1910, Page 5

THE LOST SATARA.

CAPTAIN HELD TO -T.a*--SYDNEY, April 28. At the Marine Court inquiry into the loss of the British-India Company*!} steamer Satara off Seal Rocks last week, ; Captain Hugill stated that after sfie struck he took bearings, which put the vessel about a quarter of a mile northeast of the Edith breaker. Binstead, the pilot, stated that he had taken large vessels through the inner passage many times. His object- ; -was to get out of the southern current, and gain about five miles on "the run between NeweaEtle and the Queensland coast. Shortly before she struck the ship was. heading between Peak Rock and Seal Rocks. If she had struck the Edith breaker, Peak Rock would have bean straight ahead; instead, It was considerably on the port bow. He admitted that his pilot's license did not authorise him to take charge of vessels outside Queensland waters, but it had been Customary for Torres Straits pilots to take charge of ships before getting into their own waters to ascertain the compass'deviations and discover how the vessels acted. The captain of a small coasting steamer said he knew of submerged uncharted rocks, which surrounded the deep watei eastward of the Edith breaker. The Court found that the loss of the steamer was caused by the wrongful act oa Cap—dn Hugill, by allowing a course to be set which caused her to strike t__ Edith breaker, and culled on him to -how cause why his certificate should not ba dealt with.