STRANDING OF THE KAIPARA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13646, 1 February 1910, Page 8

STRANDING OF THE KAIPARA.

CONTINUATION OF THE ENQCIrS:'

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TEUCUIM ' AUCKLAND, The Raipara enquiry waa ream*.* this morning. John Daniels, the Union Com. ,1 pany's superintendent, who i^ , amined the Kaipara, stated tW her plates were ripped and bolari . \\hon tho soundings were takenthl? lead had probably dropped strairi* into the sea. Frank Corbett, chief engineer •!•.* posed thai the vessel's heavy Ist'itu" noticed while coaling at the wharf ■ and efforts were made to straight***•' the vessel by putting as much ca2~£ i possible at the opposite etde, but ft* " list still increased. Witness was ried about it, and questioned tW ' second engineer, who assured him thai , the tanks were full. I n the buuW i they had 40 tons of coal more on tWifport side than on the starboard, atil*'on deck about 80 tons more than the starboard side. Hβ felt no buaeSas the vessel lpft the -wharf. .^Hj Mr Kettle, fci.M., eonrmentod on tW?foct that, the Marine Department ha&'H taken no .steps to locate the hidden shoal or rock on which it w»»;. : i alleged tho vessel had struck, and said" that the Court would not ckee Turta- ,- it was styyplied with full and information on this point. EMjaia».*' tion should be made by an independent party. *■«*-• Herman Dawson, fourth officer, Kald-' from the soundings taken at low water • spring tide, 24ft was the lowest deoth' ' on tho shoal. Mr Kettle: And where you found this shoal giving a depth of 21ft the chart gives a depth of 31ft?—Yee. Mr Cotter: And it was on that shot! that the vessel struck?— Yes. James Brighatn, secretary of the Auckland Harbour Board, said he knew oi" some instances in which ships were alleged to have touched the bottom or ' the fairway of Rangitoto Channel. Oβ*.-. instance occurred about 20 years ago, / when a French warship, the Daqoeutt -~J was alleged to have touched, flj*' matter was fully gone into by the theft ■ harbourmaster. Captain Burgess. neSj- also remembered the case of tt&'j Wai mate, which was stated to kse£\ touched on July 27th, 1904, daring flj?time Captain Duder was master. The report of the master on the subject stated thatSs\ s.s Waimate, drawing &pproxiaig|ftf£r 25ft 9in, touched bottom the deep water channel. The • miralty survey gave ample direetiefljtfi for the guiding of vessels . of ""s#lo* draught to pass through the and the harbourmaster therefore. <sii not think that dredging, or btioymjc - was necessary. It was, bowerer.-iaii- '. the witness, decided to place booy* a& certain points to mark the Chaand.v 1 No survey was made by the but in November. 1903, a telegram tral ? sent by the Auckland Harbour Board to members of both Hooaes oi Parliv . ment in regard to the proposal for' a survey of Haiiraki Gulf. , The tele-i gram said:—"Many uncharted daagen i are known to exist in the Gulf. Th»? Board, therefore, considers it of tie { utmost importance that a tarrer;should at once be proceeded with, and; continued to the North Gape. IK*': Board is of opinion that this sumry of a more urgent nature than mys other" work." The survey was, how-;* ever, deferred. - "v 5 Mr Kettle: Have you with other Harbour Boards to ascertains if they hare made surreys of their harbours on their oivn account?— sir. but I understand that the HydWK? graphic Department will not allow surreys to be put on their ohaxUlSß'l less they are made by their cers. In the case of a large f his kind' it would be local body to do it efficiently, *4r : /m| would take a- iong time and » staff of men. ' • • \ra The J enquiry wis adjourned t3l''*oj3 morrow. '