NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 207, 30 August 1918, Page 2

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

STEAMER AND SOOW OOLUDE. The nautiea.l inquiry into the collision in the harbour on July 12 between the Richardson steamer Mako and the Lcy-land-CBrien bcow Seagull wae resumed before Mr. E. C. Cuttcn, S.M., a«d Captains Reed and Kaeper yesterday afternoon and to-day. Mr Sclwyn Mays is appearing for the Marine Department. Mr. A. J. Moody for the scow-master, Mr. V. R. Meredith for the captain of the Mako, Mr. 11. 11. Oetler for the mate of the Mako, and Mr. R. McVeagh for the owners of the eteainer.

Captain R. .T. Fletcher, of the Mako, cross-examined further by Mr. Moody, said he did not sound two. blasts when he gave the order to starboard his helm, focauso he did not give tliat order with the direct intention of crossing ahead of the scow and Ibccaaise the order was designed merely to minimise the damage of an unavoidable collision. Altering Che couree gave a longer time for the vessels to meet, it did not appear to | him to have 'been more prudent to go [ full speed astern. The primary cause of the collision was that he wae not able to see. the ecow'e light in time. The j scow wae justified in maintaining he.rj speed and in standing to her course li> minutes before the collision, and he agreed that it migM have helped the scow had witness sounded two short blaste. He would not swear that he had not been to anyone to ascertain how the' wind was that" night. He had discussed the weather and atmospheric conditions with the Harbour Board night officer. Witness might have «een the nightwatchman's record book on the table, but did not look at the records, although the night watchman might have referred to this matter. To Mr. Meredith: The Make, smoke wan blowing over her staxboard tx>w and falling towards the water. When he first saw the scow's light it seemed dull. To Mr. Ostler: The hcow seemed to emerge behind the cloud of smoke. To Mr. McVeagh: He had always found the mate diligent and attentive to hie duties. MAKO'S CAPTAIN RE-EXAMINED. Re-examined by Mr. Mays, Captain Fletcher, who said he did not know the scow was beached 300 yds westward of the Victoria wharf, added that the impact did not twist the scow round, which seemed, to have more way on than tne Mako at the time of the collision. The hcow beached much nearer Victoria wharf than to the fable wharf. Witness was observing the sandspit light, which was not obscured by his smoke, and he also saw Bean Rock ligh . The mate may not have been observing the sandspit light. The only explanation he could give was that the mate looked away, and on looking back mistook the light on the Mako's Ktarboard liow for the light he had seen on hie port bow. The Mako was a well deck forwir.l of the red light, otherwise the collision might have occurred where Captain .Icnsen said it-took place. Witness felt sure the mate was not on the well deck for some time before the collision. He assumed that the hatches wen , covered and the derricks down, but it was the mate's duty to see to that. Witness heard the order 'Throw your ht'im to starboard." and he did not olindly rhtr hie helm, and, as he wae observmg the scow, the order coincided with his judgment. The Mako had powerful lights. I and probabry could be seen -by the scow , under the smoke. If the port light of i the scow could only be seen a mile away that night it must have been dim. ; If the scow had not been so close (about •200 ft away) he would have ported his , helm to go round her stern.

THE SCOWS LIGHTS. .Tas E. Quinn, master of the ftcarner fJlenclg, said he left Auckland (No. 4 jetty) at 0.30 on July 12, hound for Whang»Tei. and went down about midchannel, if anything to the starboard side. Approaching the North Head the mate reported a gTcen light on the starboard Iww. about half-a-mile away. It was quite distinct. Witncee watched it until he got hie red light on. and then hanled away to the north. He took the vessel to be bhe Seagnh or the Alma. Both her lights were shining well when witness paesed her. The wind was lowering. Witness said his smoke went over hie port 6ide. and did not affect him seeing ahead. It was a Htarry. clear night, but witness sighted no other vessel between King's wharf and North Head. Cross-examined l)y Mr. Meredith, witness said the wind varied in the harbour. Smoke from a steamer seldom dropped down. He had never seen a fairly solid bank of it drop down. (Proceeding.)