THE STAR OF CANADA.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14408, 16 July 1912, Page 8

THE STAR OF CANADA.

MAGISTERIAL ENQUIRY OPENED

(rRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

GISBORNE, July 15

The magisterial enquiry into the stranding of the Star of Canada open: cd this morning, beforo Mr Barton. S.M. Captains Post and Chrisp were the assessors. Mr F. W. Nolan represented the Collector of Customs, -Mr M. Myers Captain Hart, and MeLsr? Alston aad Coleman tho Gisborne narbour Board.

Captain Hart deposed that he anchored at the usual anchorage for ocean steamers, which he had used repeatedly for nine years, always finding it a good holding ground. On Sunday, Juno 23rd, the* wind became squally in the afternoon. The sea was moderate, and the steamer was lying quietly. The squall increasing, at 7.4 p.m. he gave orders that the pert anchor bo got ready, and also called the chief engineer, who said it would tako half an hour at the longest to warm the engines up. Steam was already up, with 2301b pressure. Witness continued to watch the ship, which was riding quite easily, with no alteration in the bearings At 10.30 he left the deck for a few moments, leaving tbo third ofHcer in charge. At 10.40 tho officer called out that there was a black squall coming down. Witness returned to the clerk, and decided to proceed to sea. There was no increase in tho wind or sea. but he feared that; with the confined anchorage, he mi slit lose his be-mncrs. and not bo able'to ■ find his way out. He gave orders to thf* clref engineer to get ready immediately. The hail and rain shut off" all ' landmarks and lights. When he discovered tho vessel had raited from her anchor, he ordered the chief officer to run forward and let t;o the port anchor. Before he cou'd do so the vessel struck. He ordered full speed astern on the port engine, bnt although this was done, the vessel continued to drive on-shore. • Ho continued using the engines and hauling on the cable till after midnight. Distress signals were sent up, and soundings taken, =*but the pumps were unable to keep the water back. He estimated that, the vessel drifted two and a half cables before she struck. The squall which drove the vessel ashore was an exceedingly violent one, quite sixty miles an hour. Until then he had had no weather to cause him to consider the advisability of leaving the readstead. . Replying to tho assessors, Captain Hart said he had been thirty-four years at sea—all the time with the Star of Canada's owners. He had been twenty years master- He had called at Gisborne for the past fifteen years, and had not come ashore for ten years. Tt was his first casualty. The harbourmaster had, told him that tho anchorage was the best in the bay, and .*.e did not think tho vessel could drag from it in any-weather. This accorded with his own personal Experiences. He had ridden out worse weather, there on several occasions with a singlo anchor. W* ?n deciding to lift the anchor at 10:45 he thought he was excessively cautious. The barometer and atmo spheric conditions were improving, and thero was not an increase of sea. He liad expected the meat barges at midnight, and there was nothing in the weather except the rain to havo prevented them working. James John Patterson, first officer of the Star of Canada, deposed that he held an extra master's certificate. Ho corroborated Captain Hart's evidence as to what happened on tho night tho ship grounded. Beforo the cables pa/ted there was no occasion for anxiety as to the safety of the ship or any reason/for gutting out to sea. He had been with iaptain Hart about eighteen months, and had been to sea for eleven years as an officer. He had always found Captain Hart to bo a careful, cautious master— oven more so than other masters he had sorved under. Captain Hart's ship .was always his first consideration. Several 'Other witnesses gave evidence. Captain. 'Gumming, harbourmaster at Gisborne, said that up to the time he left duty (10 p.m.) there was nothing to compel a man on tho Star of Canada's anchorage to go to sea. He had eeen big vessels hanging on to their anchors in such weather. It is expected that the enquiry will conclude to-morrow. . (SPEO"UE> TO '• TTTR *PRESS.") GISBORNE, July 10. The diners are continuing their inspections of the Star of Canada, and it is officially stated that the side of the vessel is badly ripped in, places. This discovery has, no doubt, been made possible by the list that the 7yessel has to port, because when the divers first went down nothing amiss with the hull was ascertained.

This afternoon the divers were inspecting No. 2 hold. Tho special hatch which is beinu made for the purrose of oorffining the water in the lower deck of No. 2hold is ne'aring completion. jettisoning of the grain from No. 3 hold :"s proceed'ng as rapidly as possible, a large proportion of the 18,000 sacks having already ■'•■' been dumped overboard.