THE WONGA WONGA.

Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 80, 14 May 1866, Page 2

THE WONGA WONGA.

We extract the following account of the official enquiry held at Cobden into the circumstances connected with the loss of the N.Z.S.N. Co.'s s.s. Wonga Wonga, from the Grey River Argus of the 9th instant : — An official enquiry into the circura-

stances of the wreck of the s.s. Wonga Wonga, was held by T. S. Kynnersley, Esq., R.M., at Cobden, on Monday. Thomas Coulson, the Harbor Master, stated that he was on duty on the 2nd instant at the Flagstaff. At about 1.30 p.m on that day he saw the Wonga Wonga coming up from the southward. At about twenty minutes to two she approached the bar; the tide was then about an hour and a quainter ebb, and the depth of water on the bar was from ten to twelve feet. He did not consider the vessel in danger in coming over the bar. The ball and white flag were flying at the time, signifying ebb tide. The steamer crossed the bar in safety, but on meeting the freshet in the river she appeared to refuse her helm. There were no flags used as signals ; the semaphore was used to guide the vessel in the proper channel. When the semaphore was first used the vessel was steering to the north. Working the semaphore is not considered a signal to take the bar ; it merely denotes that vessels will be attended to guide them in the channel. The bar was in a good passable state, and the river had the ordinary usual current. "Vessels of the same draught as the Wonga have crossed the bar often before under similar conditions. Knowing the draught of tlie Wonga, and her power, and the state of the tide and river at the time the bar was taken, no want of caution was used in attempting to come in. James Walker the signalman, gave similar evidence. Captain Mundle stated that he was induced to attempt the bar by seeing the semaphore hoisted. Had the semaphore not been hoisted, he would not have attempted to take the bar, as he had put the vessel's head to seaward, with the intention of coming to an anchor. When the semaphore was worked hard to the south he was induced to come in. First found the steamer in jeopardy immediately after crossing the bar; she was then coming in quite well, but ran in the hollow of a sea, and took the ground. The helm was put hard aport, but the current of the river being on the starboard bow, and her heel touching, she would not steer, and she drifted on to the beach. The Wonga was drawing 7 ft. 4 in. at the time ; there was plenty of water on the bar — two fathoms. He attributed the vessel going ashore to the narrow state of the channel, and to the sudden bend that it was necessary to turn to enter the river. Peter Dale, the chief mate of the Wonga Wonga, corroborated the testimony of the Captain, and other witnesses were called, whose evidence did not throw any further light on the matter.