NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9879, 9 November 1897, Page 5

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

DUNEDIN, Novembers Mr W. G. Neill, American Consul, held an enquiry touching the wreck of the Commodore. The facts elicited were that the Commodore was bound from Honolulu to' New York with a cargo of sugar. At noon on the 3rd of September the captain took bearings and made himself out te be in latitude 2deg. 19min S., long. 154deg 47rain W., or thirty miles from Maiden Island, which he expected to sight. He gave instructions for the ship to be put about at twelve o'clock, considering that by that time he would be in the vicinity of the island. At twenty minutes to twelve, however, tbe vessel struck. The captain attributes the position of the vessel to strong and southerly currents, taking him further on his course than he expected. All of those on board got safely ashore, but lost all their possessions save what scant clothing they had on at the time of the mishap. The second officer and seven of the crew proceeded to Melbburne by a schooner leaving for that port from Maiden Island, the remainder preferring to await a passage for New Zealand, being of opinion that they would thus be enabled ho reach America more quickly. Mr Neill has provided for the temporary wants of the unfortunate seamen, who will be provided for here nntil passages are procured for them to America, or until they find berths on other vesseb.

The statement of the captain is that he had a good observation at midday, when he made out by the chart they had 108 miles to run, and by the patent log they had only run seventy-six miles up to the time of striking. The difference he accounted for by the strong current.