STRANDING OF THE VESPER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 770, 19 March 1910, Page 6

STRANDING OF THE VESPER.

THE CAPTAIN "COLLAPSED." • HIS CERTIFICATE CANCELLED. (By TeleeraDh.—Press Association.) Auckland, March 18. A magisterial inquiry has been opened into the stranding of the scow Vesper at Whangaparoa.' . . . Peter Petersen, master of the vessel, deposed that on the day of the stranding of the Vesper, three hands, including himself, were removing mutton carcasses from the steamer Kaipara. Bofore they left the 'steamer threo bottles of whisky and one bottle of rum were taken aboard the scow: Witness had about four drinks of whisky. On the voyage down the channel witness took charge of the .wheel, the other men being below. The night'was' clear. About 3.40 a.m. he went below to get a oigarette, and colla'ji'sed owing to having, been up for two .nights in. succession. 'He fell asleep, and the next..thing he knew was one of the men calling but that the vessel was: ashore. , . ■ . <■ W. Stanley Clark," the. Vesper's engineer, stated on the night of the collision, he went to bed. early while the vessel was off Bangitoto Channel. In his cabin was a bottle of rum which, at the time he retired, was practically fuIL Witness, jrent to sleep, and did not wake again,'Until7;the, ship was on the rocks. He went on deck, and. then proceeded to cabin in company, with Wi115..".. It'Y.took.-'a' long time to waken Petersen who ;■,was. asleep in his bunk. ; When!, awakened,,,it • w'as, evident that, the, master was under the influence of-liquor. 'Witness then noticed that a third of the rW was gone from, the bottle in' his'cabin.- ';'■;. ";■ .; •'' : ,',

Edgar 1 P. Goldsbro, agent for the Vesper,'6aid that he issued orders for the. boat to proceed with the work of unloading the Kaipara, and on the morning in .question, sent three bottles of whisky aboard for the crew. As far as the agents were concerned, Wills ■ was master of the ship, representing the owner's interests. Petersen waa only there because it was necessary to carry a certificated master on the .boat. Witness knew-that Petersen 'was a man of intemperate'habits. ■';;>'■■■ • '; ;. 7 Captain , Fleming, marine superintendent, gave formal evidence and!, thisi.'com-. , pleied the inquiry.'' The Court cancelled the certificate of Captain Petersen, and ordered the owners to pay. the cost of ■ the inquiry.