NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 30, 4 February 1916, Page 2

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

THE KAITOA MISTIAP.

(Bj Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WEUJXGTON, this day. An inquiry into the stranding of the Btcamer Kaitoa near Cope Terawhiti on Sunday night was opened to-day before Mr. Riddell, SJH., and Captains Lambert and Gray.

Captain Stevens said he had obtained a special permit to make a daylight passage with 62 passengers. He was on the bridge all the time. After leaving Jackson's Head, when the tide wae ebbing, he shaped tho usual course. He took no cross-bearings to check his position. Before entering the fog there was no deviation of tho compass. Fog signals were sounded all the time. When he saw a dark object half a mile ahead he ported his helm, stopped one engine, then the other. A minute or two later the vessel touched. He reckoned he was then two and a-half to three miles from Terawhiti. He took no soundings—had no appliances to do so. He did not use the patent log, as he did not believe in it in the Straits, where the tide was so strong. The passengers were landed safely, but for fear of bad weather coming on. subsequently he re-embarked them. The vessel came off quite casilv about two hours later.

The inquiry is proceeding.