FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 115, 16 May 1936, Page 26

FIFTY YEARS AGO

TAIAROA INQUIRY

"In addressing the Court of Inquiry relative to the Taiaroa disaster this morning, Mr. Travers alluded to the unfortunate tendency evinced by the masters of vessels to disregard the responsibility which the law throws upon them of seeing that their vessels are thoroughly equipped," said "The Post" of May 12, 1886. "Mr. Travers said it ought to be better known that the commander of the ship is really responsible for seeing that all necessary appliances are provided." When the s.s. Kennedy was-crossing the Wanganui bar in the morning of May 11 she got on a sandbank at the south side of the channel. There was a thick fog at the time. The Japanese man-of-war Tsukuba arrived in Wellington on May 10 from Yokohama, Newcastle, and Sydney. The vessel, which was an old style of warship, built in England many years previously, carried eight 64-pounders and two guns of smaller calibre. The Hauroto, which on a voyage from the south steamed somewhat nearer the coast than was usual in order that the passengers might view the scene of the Taiaroa catastrophe, discovered that. only the boiler of the ill-fated vessel could be seen. A severe southerly gale struck Wellington on Saturday, May 15, the wind blowing with terrific violence and without abatement. In the harbour shipping operations were at a standstill during the prevalence of the gale,

and not a single vessel arrived or sailed on the Sunday. The foresight of the captains of the ships in harbour prevented any serious damage to their craft, all of which rode out the storm in safety. There were, however, several casualties among the small pleasure craft.