WRECK OF TE TEKO.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 207, 30 August 1920, Page 2

WRECK OF TE TEKO.

NATTCTCAL DTQUIR-Y. THE CAPTAIN'S NARRATIVE. A nautical inquiry was held to-day at the Magistrate's Court into the wreck of the auxiliary schooner Te Teko, on Slipper Island, at 8 p.m. on August 6, 1920. Mr. W. R- McKean, S.M., presided, the assessors being Captain Heed and Captain Caspar. Mr. Selwyn Mays appeared for the Marine Department, Captain Fleming being also present. Mr. Meredith appeared for the master of the Te Teko (Edward Sellars). Captain Hammond (assistant manager) watched proceedings on behalf of the Northern S.S. Co., and Mr. R. G. Sellar appeared foe the three children of the able seaman, Joseph Gobic, who was lost at the time of the ! wreck. The facta were that on the night of August G the Te Teko was on the way from Whakatane to Auckland, and when passing Mayor Island encountered a heavy N.E. gale, with thick weather. About 8 p.m. she struck on a reef to the B.E. of Slipper Island, and became a total wreck, Joseph Gobie, A.8., being ' lost. The points referred to the Court to decide were: Wliat was the cause of the wreck —whether it was due or contributed to by negligence, wrongful act, default, or want of supervision; also, was the ship seaworthy and fully manned at the time? Edward Sellars, master of the Te Teko, said his service had been mainly on the East Coast. He had only been master of the Te Teko two months, but prior to that had a lot of experience in scows and steamers. His vessel was not overloaded, and could have carried about as much more cargo as she had on board that trip. Mayor Island was abeam about 5 o'clock. He noticed the vessel was making leeway, lowered the board, and altered the course to nor'-west by north, really about half a point to the north, which should have brought him outside the Slipper and inside Alderman Island. At that time there were rainy squalls, and he could not see the mainland. He did not go below after that, having had his tea between 5 and 5.30 p.m. The vessel's course should have taken her three miles to three miles and a-half off Slipper Island. He was a bit anxious, owing to the weather being so thick. He continued that course until the vessel struck Slipper Island. He saw a break, and gave the order to stop the port engine and put the wheel over. Those orders were carried out, but the vessel struck on the S.E. corner of the Slipper. The boat was got ready for launching, but the sea was too heavy. He could not send up a rocket, because the matches were wet. Within a few minutes all hands had to take to the rigging. They remained Jhere all night, and were rescued at daylight next morning. Witness last Baw Gobic about midnight on the starboard rigging. The two engineers got ashore on a hatch, and one man swam to the island. Witness accounted for striking Slipper Island as being due to soma strong "set" on the coast. He had not found anything wrong with the steering of the TeTeko. Mr. Mays: To go to leeward four miles in 23 seems pretty bad. Witness: Yes. I was afraid to make my course too northerly, lest I should get too close to Alderman Island. I thought there was sufficient centreboard down to check the drift to leeward.