THE TASMAN INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 135, 8 June 1921, Page 10

THE TASMAN INQUIRY

FIRST MATE'S EVIDENCE,

(II TELBSItAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 7th June.

At the Tasman inquiry, William John M'Manus said that on the night of the disaster he was first mate of the steamer, and he had then b«en in this position for about six months. He corroborated Captain Grigg's statement of the circumstances prior to the disaster, giving details of the weather and course.. Assuming that the. vessel was two to two and a-half miles off Matata when her position was noted, he could.not account for her striking the south-west end of Rurima rocks. He had never experienced any strong " set" of the tide in that vicinity. * During the trip he had neither checked the steeling compass with the standard one, nor had he seen anybody else check it. Following the course that had been set he expected the vessel to be two miles from Matata, and it looked to be so. The Tasman was a bad steering vessel, and it was difficult for one man, the officer of the watch, to check the steering with the standard compass. The rules of the company required the compass to be checked with, frequency. He had no explanation to offer to account for the vessel going off her course. Witness was not thoroughly satisfied that she struck the south-west end of the Rurima reef. If she had they would have seen the rock, as it was nearly low water. He thought the rock on which the Tasman struck was some distance to the south of this point of Rurima. After further evidence the inquiry was adjourned.