NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 252, 23 October 1924, Page 8

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

STRANDING OF WAR LORD. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, Wednesday. A nautical inquiry was held to-day before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., and Captains J. Holme 3 ai< A. Miller, as assessors, into the stranding of the schooner War Lord off Waikokopu Harbour on July 0. John Lowrv, master of the War Lord, said the vessel left Gisborne for Wai--1 kokopu on July 2, and arrived two days later. On arrival the wind" shifted, and witness made for the shelter of a small reef on tbe Mallia side of the bay. When the vessel was within one mile of the roef a rain squall shut out the laud, and witness was compelled to anchor in about the centre of the bay, about one mile from the shore. The vessel remained at anchor till July 7, when the cable parted. Witness had only one bower anchor, the other being on the •wharf at Waikokopu, the vessel on the previous trip having to slip a cable at Waikokopu. In the meantime an anchor had been lent to the ship by the Waikokopu Harbour Board. It had been intended to exchange anchors. On the night of the stranding witness let two kedge anchors go for the purpose of keeping the ship stern on to the sea. The ship grounded on sand, and gradually worked up the beach. In reply to Mr. Burnard, who appeared-for the underwriters, witness said the regulations required a ship to havo two bower anchors of at least scwt each. That was in the Marine Department's regulations, but he didn't know it was one of Lloyds' regulations. Witness had one bower anchor.

After other evidence had been called by Mr. Nolan (who acted for the Marine Department), Mr. Chrisp (counsel for the owners) opened tlieir case.

Captain T. C. Thompson, master of the Huanui, and' one time master of the War Lord, said the anchor on the War Lord had been placed there by him, and was used by him. Provided the anchor and chain were heavy, he preferred one anchor to two. He bad heard the facts regarding the stranding. Had witness been in charge he would have adopted the*same course as Captain Lowry did.