GROUNDING OF A BARQUE

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 155, 1 July 1914, Page 6

GROUNDING OF A BARQUE

IN RANGITOTO CHANNEL. THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY. A .magisterial inquiry into the grounding of the barque Joseph Craig upon \ Hough Rock, iv the Rangitoto Channel, on June 11. was held this morning before -Mr C. C. Kettle. S.M.. and Captains W. Robertson and W. J. Heed, assessors. Mr Selw.vn Mays appeared for the Colli eetor of Customs. Mr R. McYeagh for ! the owners of the vessel, and the Auckland Harbour Board, an.l Mr M. G. McGregor for the captain and cliief officer. Samuel D.ilrymple. surveyor of ships for the Port of' Auckland, stated that he had inspected the Joseph Craig both before and after dockimr. Tlie only damage consisted of a dent and a fracture a fleeting one plate in the garboard str.ike on the. port side. Tlie fracture extended vertically about five or six inches, and varied in width from a-quarter inch to a-balf inch. It was sufficiently large lo fill the fore-peak with water in a \exy short time. The collision bulkhead aft of the forepeak held and was watertight, -and no damage was done to the cargo. Had tlie fracture been about 2ft (iin further aft it would have been a more serious matter, as the water would then have entered the hold. If the damaged plate had been of steel instead of iron it would have dented in and not broken. The damage was really remarkably small, assuming that the ship (struck a rock. Geoffrey William Arey. master of the Joseph Craig.stated that on the morning of June i\ he was inward bound to Auckland from Melbourne. At (midnight all bands were called on deck to lack tbe vessel oil' Cull Point, after which he lav-close-hauled along the Takapuna shore. in the white section of tbe Bean Rock light. When off the Takapuna wharf he headed between the two light buoys in the channel, but as the vessel was abreast of .the Rangitoto Beacon a heavy squall came down, shutting out all the lights. As soon as lie saw that it was getting thick, lie got a hand on the lead and two hands on the lookout. All bands were then on deck, shortening (tail. The chief oflicer was on the forecastle head, getting ready to let go the anchor. and witness'was watching the steersman (o =cc that he did not make anything to windward. Just as the worst ol" tbe squall was over a buoy was reported on the starboard side, about half a ship's leugth ahead. 'He ordered the helm hard up. 'but almost immediately the ship started to take the ground. This was about 1 a.m.. and the ship remained fast till 3 a.m.. When she floated off with the rising tile. Just before the buoy was sighted, the lead shower! six fathoms. When the ship struck he sounded -the wells, took in all sail, put nut both boats in case ihe bulkhead .lid not hold against the water in the 'fore-peaik. and sent up rockets for assistance. The first relief vessel (the Harbour Board's pilot laum-hl arrived at .".'ill. two hours after the first rocket. Rough Rock was about 1.000 yards to windward of his origin:'l course between the light buoys, and he could only account for the deviation by assuming that tiie Hood tide set him further tn windward than lie had allowed for. "His allowance was about a <iuarter. point. At the time of striking be was reiving on the lead, which trace him perfectly' safe water up to the la-t cast. Dnrinir the thick of the squall the ship was doiim about 1- knots, and in his opinion the stranding was caused by the squall coming down at a pretty good mice. -.in.l rendering the ship temporarily iiiiuiatiaa-oabic. 'Hud there been a man on Mount Victoria, his distress signals would have been more r.ad'dv seen than by the night officer on tli<> Railway wharf, who. he believed, was the first lo notice t'lieni. Corroborative evidence was rriven by William Edwin 'Sanders (chief officer)', Janics Jacobs (leadsman), an.l Thomas Doyle (helmsman). Captain Sergeant, harbour master.said there was always a signalman stationed it 'lin ii with lolf.pli.-inr communi:-.! tion wiiii witn.ss and the wharf. There was also a night oilie.-r on duty al tire 'Wharf, a signalman on dtifv on ihe railway wharf signal tower, ami two watchmen besides. The crew of ji.hp. tug Te Awhin-a were all in telephonic con" mimical ion. iFin-s were always kent in the tug. and the pilot heat was in readiness a. Devonport. There was nobody on duty oai ihe Devonport sitnailing -.cation between sunscl and-sun-rise, ilmt tlrere wen- mcai on- duly al 'Fort Cautley and' Porß Takapuna. who were in lelo.plmnio communication Replying to Mr. Kettle, witness said the barque's signals of distress were not seen by the watchman until :>' a.m., two i hours after the barque struck. This was probably due to the fact f.liat the spot where she struck was immediately behind Mount Victoria, and the rockets would thus be hidden. Witness did not think it necessary to have the signalman on Mount Victoria.