COLLISION BETWEEN STEAMER AND KETCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 172, 14 April 1908, Page 9

COLLISION BETWEEN STEAMER AND KETCH.

(FY., TILEGBArH—MESS ASSOCIATION.')

, MARINE INQUIRY. , '

: ml t . Auckland, April 13. , The. marine inquiry into tho circumstances of tho collision steamer Wairuna and the ketch-Moonah; was continiled to-day beforo Miv C. -p. Kettlp,. S.M.,'and Captain's Adamson and,, Mackenzie,' assessors. Mr.' Mays appeared for tho Customs Department, Mr. M'Veagh; for the''. Union Steam Ship Company, Mr.:,Hanria {or Captain Robinson, and thc : other officers of the Wairuna, and Mr. M'Gregor ( :for Captain De Silva'of tho Moonah. .' ; 'O. Captain de Silva,: continuing his evidence, described how,Jio and Stirling sustained their injuries and:' Smith's disappearance. Smith could' not as far'as'ho know. "... Mr. .Mays: Havo you-ever been approached by tho harbourmaster <jn the subject of going t« sea without haying your ship properly manned? .. T' ■ Witness:- Ofijvyes....... Mr. ' Kettle'-', said ho ; did not . think that question could bo gone. ; into. - • ~ Mr. Mays intimated -to the Court that a prosecution would probably follow.. ■ Mr.. ' Kettle,:'. ,Captain' Robinson says he gavo.two short, sharp, blasts of his whistle before.tho collision. ! , Witness:,'l'only h^ard'one. My hearing, is pretty good. ■ .' Captain Robinson, recalled, said he set his courso by the compass when west of tho Iris. This was-tho usual thing to do, and tho man at tho wheel-must bo given something to steer.-iby. •• • . Wm. Stirling; an A'-B. in the ketch during the voyage,- described the vessel's progress to opposito the' Iris; whero the collision took place. He heard one blast of tho steamer's whistlo when'she was about three of-her own lengths; distant; i -When tho smash occurred ho was alof.t,; and when tho mast gave way ho. jumped for] the steamer's rail. Witness thought, he. skip tho Wairuna's green light. Her masthead'and port lights were plainly visible. The steamer, he-thought, was travelling at seven knots wben she struck the ketch, and she! buried her nose up to tin? smaller, vessel's (centreboard. ',The Magistrate': The evidence of the quartermaster of ,thd Iris on. watch, who should hayc a.. note of tho occurrence, should liavo been secured beforo tho cable steamer left for Brisbane. ,\ Mr. Hamia : Tfere was nothing in the log of the Iris. . ~; ' Mr. Mays: The quartermaster of the Iris heard 110 .whistles,.'. His evidence' absolutely negatives] that of the others. Mr. Kettle: he should be here to say so. The, case'may hinge 011 the question of the 'whistles. ; We will havo to adjourn tho inquiry until we hear .his version. The'men on the Itis should be able to give this evidonce. .. If ithey., cannot, -then they ha vo not been, keeping proper watch. - Tlie (inquiry was adjourned until, next morning. . .