SCOW CAPSIZED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1928, Page 10

SCOW CAPSIZED.

COLLISION IN HARBOUR.

HAVOC AND lIIKUR AN GL

MARINE INQUIRY OPENED.

The capsizing of the scow Havoc, as the result of a collision with the collier Ilikurangi on April 2 last, was the subject of a marine inquiry at the Magistrate's Court this morning. At the time of the collision the scow Havoc was being towed from Kangit jto to Auckland by the launch Orere, while the steamer Ilikurangi was bound from Auckland to Whangarei.

At the inquiry to-day Mr. E. C. Cutten, 5..M.. presided. and the representatives of the parties concerned were: Mr. Allan Moody, and with hint Mr. George for the master of the Ilikurangi, Captain Geoffrey N. George; Mr. R. McYeagh, for tlie master of the launch Orere, Ernest Hall; also the owners, the Auck-

land Harbour Board; Mr. F. Lowrie, for the owners of the Hikuraugi; Mr. Hubble for the Marine Department, who had ordered the inquiry. The assessors were Captain Braid wood and Mr. Darryriinple, engineering assessor. Saw a White Ligdht. The first witness calle was Captain Geoffrey H. George, ma.-ter of the ISikurangi. who was at the wheel at the time of the collision. He said ihat about p.m.. on the night of April "2 la-=t. the Ilikurangi left Eitzroy wharf (near Prince's wharf i en a voyage to Whangarei. It was a moonlight night and clear. When round the Sand spit beacon he saw one white light about half a mile away, veering approximately nor'east by north, and Slightly on his slar-

board bow. He took tho light to be an anchor light or the stern light of a vessel. He came to the conclusion it was tlie anchor light of a vessel. The mate was on the lookout for the Sandspit beacon, but left ami came to the bridge to witness and discussed tlie light, coming to the conclusion it was a vessel at anchor. The Hikurangi was travelling at about eight knots, and was keeping her course and sp«-ed. Witness did not alter the course till he suddenly saw a vessel swing round and show a red light. She would then be only a length away. Witness at once reversed engines and swung to port, but a collision could not be avoided. Then he saw that the white light he liad observed earlier was a kerosene lamp on the masthead of the Orere. The reason he saav no other lights was because they were obscured by the deckload on the barge. After the collision he noticed that the Orere had two masthead lights, also a stern light. The Havoc had a red light standing on the deckload of stones. He blamed the method of loading, and the position of the light on the Havoc for him not being able to see tlie light before the collision. After standing by for a time, and knowing that assistance was not required, witness proceeded on the trip to Whangarei.

Jlr. Hubble: After the mate had spoken to you on the bridge and went below you were the only person on the lookout on the Hikurangi ?-r—Yes. ' The Moon's Rays. Mr. McVeagh: The moon was on the full, ami it was a perfectly clear night?— Yes. Well, how is it you did not see these vessels when you were some distance off? —'ion can't see the objects if you are looking into the rays of the moon. Well. how near could you go to an object under such conditions without seeing it ?—A couple of hundred yards. How far away were you when you saw the white light?— About half a uiile. And you decided what:—That jt was one of two things—an anclivi" light or the stern light of a vessel. And you took it to be what?—A vessel at anchor. And how far were you off when vou saw tlie red lightr—One length off.* And the length of your boat is:—l.3o feet.

\ou were rutting it pretty fine goiii" round tlie North Head J—l was not."" &

How f;ir do yon .-ay you were off the North Head at tin; time of the colli.-ion ? —I hor 200 vards.

Hut how far?—l couldn't say. I was over ji cable's length. Why <1 i<l you not liave a man at the wheel?— Because I had l»ecn -let in" twice hy a man at the wheel. Red Light Obscured. I Mr. Moody: Von say delinitelv that the red light which you say was"-,lacod on tl,,- .-tones on the Havoc.'was obscured nil you were a length off her?—Vcs. If the Havoc had kept her course do \ou say that the collision would liave been avoided?— Yes. Victor .Kwcph Saver, holder of a home, trade mate's certificate, and chief officer of the Hiknranjri at the time of tlrcollision, said he saw a white liuat oft' the North Head and reported it to Captain < Jeorge. Witness took it to l.e '.» ve-sel at anchor and Captain George •»gieed. Witness saw no other lights and went below. Two or three minutelater lie heard the telegraph ring and almost immediately the impact of 1 h<collision wa- felt. In conversation members of the crew of the Havoc and Orere admitted there was rn.bodv or, the Havoc and all were on the launch, and that they did not see the liikuran-i till she struck the Havoc. He con -idered tlie Havoc iu-uilicicntlv lighted. . :Nlr - McVeagli: If you thought she was msufliciently lights why didn't you say so to the members on the launch .'— The master, Captain George mentioned it, and I thought that enough. Mr. Lowrie: Jf the light had turned out to be a vessel at anchor would you have cleared it keeping to your course - 1 OS.

y Thc Hikurangi was properly lighted?

And it those 011 the launch had been keeping a proper look-out thov mu*i. have seen the Hikurangi?-— They 'couldn't help it if they had been keeping a look-

John Alexander chief engineer of the Hikurangi said that just 1 C °l lis .'°" "u-. telegraph ran, jfv a 01 n - Within a couple of seconds the order was carried out. The elegrajjh was iu perfect working order. , ' master of the Harbour Board s launch Orere, said he was tow5 t ™ scow ' H«voc to Auckland from collision S Uar J' le ! on the ni K ht of the St nf « H x,^ rst the mas t headboa- f+l Hikurangi showing over the b°\v of the 1 targe. Witness was on the launch standing alongside Stephenson, who had the wheel. He considered the leason he did not see the Hikurangi earlier was because the stone on the sto\v partly obscured the view, and there was also the glare of the city's li"ht-= to be contended with. When witness saw a collision was ill eviable he ordered tephenson to go hard to starboard. The engines were reversed, but the course

was practically unaltered Hikurangi struck the Havoc.

Should Have Been Viable. launch -hotlThiv^^f^h,® 11 Hikurangi. The top headmaJlLw tbe oil. and tlie other liehU Was (list.nice between Th * be mast headlight was 6ft* it ance iron, the deck to light was <ft, and the height of v 1 .-■tones on the Havoc would I fcl tan to 7lt. There was feldt, on uoard the Havoc ot the collision. She was caritfL i?* regulation sidelights. As ferV 2 ..ess could see, they were hunr on*" liook on the ? ide of the boxe!? * were not screened, and lOit t<» l-.it from the bow Ho i U not explain why tbe skipper* did rJ° the port light. not sce (Proceeding).