MARINE INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 72, 25 March 1919, Page 11

MARINE INQUIRY.

WRECK OF THE WAIROA. THE MASTER EXONERATED. In his evidence before the Court of Inquiry concerning the wreck of the ■tfTairoa on Tairua Bar on February 3, Edward Sellars said he put into Tairua as provisions ivre getting short, arriving fit destinatioi about fi.45 p.m., the bar being crossed just before high vater, in 13 feet mid-channel. In approaching the wharf the vessel stuck on the bank and remained there until Sunday, when she was floated to the wharf, remaining until Monday. February 3, ■when he left about 7.45 for Slipper fcland to pick up the raft, the weather being misty with no winrl. He could not see the bar when he left the wharf, but expected little or no eea. Reaching the bar lie found it was breaking heavy and, in crossing, the vessel bumped twice, the second bump carrying away the stern post and driving the rudder trunk up through the deck nnd stopping the engines, the tide at this time being the first of the ebb. As there had been no wind during the night he had not anticipated finding any eea at the bar. He swung to the flood tide and went down against the last of the flood. It was about top of high water when he got off the beacon. He found a tidy sea running but thought he could pet out, there being a good tide. He put on :i man to take soundings, the last of which iwrae 13ft. The ship rose to the first sea and came down on her keel, striking the bar in mid-channel. The second sea did the damage above stated. He bad a boat swung out in readiness. The vessel was making .water and seemed to be making for the eanflspit, where she went ashore on the port side and those aboard landed at 1 p.m. He remained by the ship for some days, salving all the gear that could be handled. The ship was abandoned about February 11. The bar was a mile and a-half from the wharf, from which the bar could not be eeen. The Wairoa's draft was Bft 9in aft and he expected to get 13 feet of water on the bar, of which he had 45 years' experience off and on. He had Been many times in and out of the bar and had no previous trouble, and this was his first accident in 25 yeare as master. The bar was on the Monday what he would call a workable bar. The ■Waiotahi paesed over the bar under eirailar conditions the next morning. He had many a time crossed the Tairua bar when the conditions were worse. Had the rudder been all right the vessel would have passed out properly. The old age of the vessel had a lot to do with the accident. He had since found out that there were several weak points about her. He considered he acted with ordinary caution. He supposed also that the strain of towing would also help to weaken the vessel aft. There was nothing to lead him to conclude there would be a eea on the bar. and he would not have taken it on had he thought so. It -would be almost impossible to turn if one did go down to try. VESSEL SOT INSURED. Reginald Cashmore eaid there was no insurance on the AVairoa, which was overhauled about three months before the stranding. He recognised the master S6 a capable and careful mariner. Joseph Davfs.'A.S., 'first mate of the Wairoa, gave evidence corroborating the testimony of the captain. He considered the master was justified in trying to get over the bar when he did. Witness had been across bars in a far ■worse condition than that that day at Tairua. The engineer of the Wairoa eaid the vessel had a full head of steam on the day in question. THE COURT'S FINDING. The court found that the stranding of the vessel was an accident probably due to some latent defect in the vessel owing to its age. No blame was attachable to anyone. Xo coste were allowed.