THE S.S. MAORI AND OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3699, 23 May 1883, Page 3

THE S.S. MAORI AND OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

[To the Editoh of the Daily Telegraph.] Sin—l observe by your issue of the 19th instant that Captain Anderson, of the s.s. Maori, denies the truth of my telegram to you of the previous l ? vi<luy re his action in taking the bar here during a heavy sea in defiance of the pilot's signals not to do so. Permit me, Sir, to flatly contradict Captain Anderson's statement to you. In the first place the bar was bad, and there was a heavy sea, else why should the Boojum be signalled a few hours previous' not to take the bar ? The captain of the latter vessel prudently took the pilot's advice, and put back to port. I happened to be at the Heads when the Boojum put back, and certainly the sea was very heavy then, wavef) at full height rolling in over the bar. The pilot did not signal "go out," but hoisted one ball on the yard-arm, Avhich, I am informed, is the signal used to signify that the bar is dangerous. Captain Anderson did go out in defiance of these signals, and not only did three heavy seas strike the vessel under ]iis charge, but from the Bluff the bystanders could sec that one passenger, (IV seaman, I cannot say which, was knocked down by the force of the sea, while another had to hold on to the rio-o-jnir to save himself, and the smoke in oC thc 0 galley disappeared. I had this on the authority of tho pilot, and today ho reiterates the statement, besides which several independent witnesses, who wore present at the time, bear me out in every particular. Toha and others who were looking on assure me that one

sea more would have thrown the vessel on° the beach. The telegram from here to your morning contemporary differs in no respect from mine. How, then, Captain Anderson, can give you a "flat contradiction '' to my statement is more than 1 can imagine. For Captain Anderson I have the greatest respect, and of his seamanship I have no doubt whatever, but acting, as he did, contrary to the orders of a paid official, who certainly knows his business, I considered it my duty to mention the matter in tho ordinary way. Trusting I have not trespassed too much on your space.—l am, &c. Yoxte Own Correspondent. Wairoa, May 21, 1883.