THE LOSS OF THE S.S. MOHAKA. OFFICIAL ENQUIRY THIS DAY. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.J

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 54, 7 March 1881, Page 3

THE LOSS OF THE S.S. MOHAKA. OFFICIAL ENQUIRY THIS DAY. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.J

Blenheim, This Day. The preliminary enquiry into the circumstances attending the loss of the s.s. Mohaka was held before Mr. Pasley, the Collector, this morning. Captain Symons deposed — We left Wellington at 8.30 p.m. on 3rd March ; passed Ponoarrow light at 9.30, when the mate took charge. He was supposed to ca'l me when he left the deck. He, however, gave the ship in charge of an unqualified person and went to bed. The first thing I heard was the vessel running aground. I jumped up, and found the steamer was on the boulder bank. I gave orders for the engines to go full speed festern, but finding she would not come off, rent for assistance, when the pilot and some fishermen came. We ran an anchor and chain out seaward, but without avail. She then started the port bilge. Finding she was filling I went to Blenheim, and on my return with a gang of men discharged cargo. I then saw the water was running in and out of her. It was about 3 a.m. when she went ashore. Thomas Acksford, the mate, deposed — I relieved the captain. On passing the Wellington Heads he told me to keep S.W. to clear the rip. I kept the wheel till 12 o'clock, when, feeling sleepy, I asked the other man, William Steward, to give me a spell. I gave him the course, and asked him not to let me sleep longer than 4 o'clock. I then went below. I felt the vessel Btriking on the beach, and went on deck and found the vessel in tho breakers. I got an oar out and tried to keep her end on to the surf, but could net. I hold a mate's certificate for the Home trade. The captain gave the men orders to keep her S.W., and clear of the rip. Steward was engaged for the voyage only. William Steward corroborated the statement of the mate as to telling him (witness) not to let him sleep longer than 4 o'clock, as he expected to be across at 5 or half -past. Witness saw a light at the Wairau pilot station at about 3 o'clock. He kept steering for the light. At 3.35 he thought they were close enough by the appearance of the light, and called the mate. As he did so, the ship bumped. He thought she was then about 8 miles from the light. They were about a mile and a half from the river mouth when she struck. Win. Murray, tho engineer, having given evidence, the enquiry terminated. The depositions will be forwarded to the Secretary o? the Marine Department.