NEARING THE END

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 120, 23 May 1931, Page 14

NEARING THE END

PROGRESS INQUIRY

QUESTION OF RESCUE

RISKS INEVITABLE

The marine inquiry into the wreck of the steamer Progress is Hearing its conclusion. Captain Campbell, of the Toia, Captain Holm, and Captain Ness, of the Holm Shipping Company, gave evidence.yesterday afternoon. The evidence of several witnesses and the addresses of the various counsel aro to bo heard, but it is anticipated that the inquiry will be finished on Monday. Mr. E. Page, S.M., is presiding, and Captain L. C. H. Worrall, Captain E. Gartner, and Mr. F. AY. Granger are the assessors. The Crown Solicitor, -Mr. J. Prcndcville, appears for the Marine Department; Mr. E. K. iKrkcaldie for Captain Copland; Mr. G. G. G. Watson for the owners of the Progress, Messrs. Holm and Company; Mr. S. J. Castle and Mr. 11. J. V. James for the Wellington Harbour Board; Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell for the master of the tug Toia, Captain W. 1-1. Campbell; Mr. O. C. Mazengarb for the Marino Engineers' Institute, and' for the widow of the chief engineer of the Progress, Mrs. T. M. Simpson: Mr. E. P. Hay, instructed by the Seamen's Union, for the seamen and h'remen of the vessel, and for the relatives of the deceased seamen; and Mr. F. P. Walsh (general president) for the Seamen's Union. In further replies to Mr. Watson, after "The Post" went to press yesterday afternoon, Captain Campbell said that he did not think it worth while to stand by during the morning of the Ist May. Ho did not think the weather would improve. Ho agreed with Captain Spence that the Toia had got within a quarter to half a mile off when the Progress struck the rocks. Mi-. Watson: "Why didn't you exchange signals with tho Progress as to what you intended to do from time to time and what you were going to do at daybreak?''—"Because ho was reading all the signals I sent to Beacon Hill." "And what did you signal to Beacon Hill?" —"I signalled that it was impossible to got a line aboard and that tho Progress was dragging." "Do you think that that information was very helpful to those on the Progress Did you at any time signal asking tho Progress for suggestions as to how to get a lino aboard'?" —"No." Captain Campbell said that after the lino had broken he steamed out to sea to get the hawser in-board. He could have slipped it altogether. EXPECTED TO BE A LIFEBOAT. Mr. Hay: "Isn't it a fact you never thought of slipping the hawser?" —"I thought of it hanging over my propeller and I didn't like it. I wanted to get it out of the way." Mr. Walsh: "When you found it was not possible to get a lino aboard, would it not have been feasible to have gone ahead of the Progress, dropped your anchors and hauled on them, and so put a line aboard?"—"No, it would not. The anchors of the Toia are no good for that purpose." Mr. Mazengarb: "She is not what she's cracked up to be?" Captain Campbell: "From a seaman's point of view she's a sea-going tug, but from a landman's point of view she's expected to be a lifeboat." To Captain Worrall, witness said that ho did not try going around tho stern of the Progress at full speed. Ho feared that the tide would take him down too far. Mr. James said that if there was any question about tho tug not getting away in reasonable time, he might call other evidence. After consulting tho assessors, Mr. Page said that the Court did not entertain tho view that there was any undue delay in getting the Toia away. "I made a suggestion to go under the stern of the Progress and come up to leeward, but I have to give Captain Campbell credit for having a greater knowledge of that locality than I. Also, he knows his own ship better than I do, and it is not for me to criticise another master mariner," said Captain Ness, of tho Holm Shipping Company, who went out in the Toia on her first trip. Mr. Treadwell: "There was no antagonism or ill-feeling of any kind between you and Captain Campbell on this trip:"—"Absolutely none." "And any suggestions you made were duly considered."—"Yes." He did not repeat his suggestion to Captain Campbell. Mr. Watson: "Was that because you had changed your mind?" —"Oh, no; I had no wish to repeat my suggestion once Captain Campbell had told me it was impracticable." Captain Sydney .Holm, tho manager of tho Holm Shipping Company, was the next witness. He said he made arrangements at 4 a.m. on Ist May to get the Terawhiti out. Mr. Prendevillo: "Did you concur with the decision of Captain Willson not to go further than Scatoun?" —'I can't say I concurred with it." Mr. AVatson: "In the early days of this inquiry it was suggested that the engines and tail shaft of the Progress were about fifty years old, is that so?" —"No, tho engines were twenty-eight years old, the propeller three years old, and the tail shaft twelve years old. She was originally a dredge in tho Waganui Harbour, and was converted into a sailing ship during the war period. We bought her at the end of 1927." The average speed for 3929 was 6.D7 knots; for 1930, 7.06 knots; and for the fraction of 1931, about (i.6 knots. After tho Wanganui incident the speed of the ship had increased slightly and the coal consumption decreased slightly, as compared with the average for threo months previously. Mr. Watson: "In your opinion as one of the owners of the ship, could the Wanganui incident have had anything possible to do with what happened in Cook Strait?"—" Nothing at all." "What do you think came in contact with the dredge wire?"—" The bilge keel." Captain Holm said that at no time during tho night and the day the Progress was wrecked was there any discussion with anyone as to .the price of towage or salvage. His idea was to get the ship into port. WOULD HAVE GONE ON. Mr. AVatson: "Do you consider that there was any practical reason why the Terawhiti should not have gone to sea?"—"No, I can't say that I do." "And you urged Captain AVillsou to go to sea?" —"Yes, I asked him to go." "Did you ring up one of tho fishermen at Island Bay and ask if a launch would take you out to the Progress?" "I did —if a launch could get out." "AVithout going into details, you think Captain Spence did all he could do on that occasion? (The Toia's second trip)?"—"l think Captain Spence did all a man could do." "Had you yourself been out there at daylight in a suitable tug, do you consider you could have brought the Progress in?" —"I suppose I have got to say 'yes' to that." Recalled by tho Court, Captain Ness said that Captain Campbell told him that he did not thhik there was any-

thing moro ho could do in the sea and in tho weather conditions and he intended returning to port. Mr. Pago: "What did you do?" 1 Witness: "I agreed." Mr. Kirkcaldie: "Did you think of the moral effect on tho crew your going away like that had?" Witness: "No.' To Captain Worrall, witness said that he did think there was a possibility of something being done and he had made his suggestion, but that was all he could do. Ho was in a difficult position aboard another man's ship. Captain Worrall: "Those men's lives were in great danger." Witness: "I realised that, sir, and I think Captain Campbell was fully convinced he could do nothing more with that ship regardless of anything I was able to put to him." Captain Worrall: "Of course, to rescue a ship on a lee shore like that you must be prepared to take risks." Witness: "I realised that, sir, and my suggestion carried a great amount of risk." Mr. Kirkcaldie: "Under the circumstances, did you think it was worth while for the'Tcrawhiti to go out'" — "I did." "And your attitude as far as Captain Campbell is concerned is that it is not your duty to criticise another master mariner?" —"I suppose that is it." "Did you urge him to do anything?" —PTNo, I didn't urge him." "Did you urge him to go around the lee side?" —"I wouldn't do that. I realise the responsibility of that particular manoeuvre." Mr. Page:"lf you had been in command of the Toia under the conditions existing at daylight, would you have brought her back to tho harbour?" — "Is that a fair question?" Mr. Pago: "Well, if you prefer not to answer it. you needn't." Witness: "I prefer not to answer The inquiry then adjourned until 10.30 a.m. on Monday. Captain Copland is to be recalled, and possibly some members of the Toia's crew.