SHIPPING.

Evening Star, Issue 5607, 26 February 1881, Page 2

SHIPPING.

Fort Chalmers.

ARRIVED— February 26.

Hawoa, 8.8., 462 tons, Kennedy, from the North. Passengers—Misses Cross, Donkin, Captain Cross, Messrs W. E. Pearce, Watson, J. Dunsford, A. Laurie, C. Dobson, Boulton, Grierson, M. M. Young, B. Glen, Smiokell, and three steerage.

February 26, Toiaroa, 8.8., 228 tons, M'Gee, from Timaru. Pas-Bengers-J-Mr and Mrs Pyfe, Mr M‘Kay, Master Bowil, and fourteen in the steerage.

SAlLED— February 25. Maori, as,, 118 tons, Jones, for Oamaro. The Talaroa, with a cargo for the ships Canterbury end British Sceptre, arrived early this morning from Tiraaru. The steamer Wakatipu, for Sydney via Lyttelton and Wellington, sails to-morrow afternoon.

THE GROUNDING OF THE JASPER.

The inquiry Into the circumstances connected with the grounding of the Jasper was held to-day at the Harbor Board offices. Present—Mr H. 8. Fish (In the chair), Messrs Ross, Mill, Paterson, and Captain Logan. The ChalrmanJ explained that It was only Intended to take the captain and mate's evidence on the present occasion, and to do so without comment, the object in taking it being simply to relieve those two witnesses from further attendance and to enable them to leave Port with their vessel, which would be sailing directly. . . Mr Mill called attention to the fact of there not being a quorum present, and thought they ought not to commence until there were. The Chairman explained that what was Intended to be dene on the present occasion was purely preliminary, and such as they could not postpone without delaying the Jasper from going to sea. It was accordingly agreed to proceed with the inquiry. Captain William Stannard deposed : I am captain of the barquentine Jasper. I was not on board her when she grounded. When I left her her way woe stopped. The boat was under the buoys, ready to run a rope to the buoy to make her fast I got into a boat and went ashore. The ship was safe when I left her. I consider that the cause of the grounding was that the ebb tide made down rather before the pilot expected. Pilot Moore was in charge. The vessel is In dock now, and the dirt is not rubbed off the paint I only consider the action of the pilot a slight error of Judgment The watermen drew my attention to her being aground. I returned to the ship, and found the harbormaster and pilot doing all they could to get her off. The ship was In the usual course. She must have drifted more than twenty fathoms. The pilot could not have been more careful than he was. I think that the buoy would be better if placed further from Ihe shore. Its position is, however, the usual one for mooring vessels of my draught. I did not ask for this Inquiry. I consider that the Harbor Department have done Its duty fully.—By Captain Thomson; H the buoy is now in 16ft of water, and if by bringing It out it would bo placed in 12ft of water, I should undoubtedly say It would be hotter where it Is. Charles Smith, mate of the Jasper, said he was on board when she grounded. The way of the tug was stopped at the time, and the ship grounded forward. Pilot Moore was on board at the time and in charge. I think I was the first to notice she had grounded. The pilot gave orders for the tug to ge hard astern immediately on our grounding. The tug did so, but she was unable to get us off. It was half-past seven when the Jasper grounded, and she was got off at about a quarter to four. The ship was in no danger whilst grounded. I think she would not have been In danger if it bad come on to blow hard. I attribute the accident to the fact that the pilot wss too close to the shore. I consider that it was a still tide when the vessel went ashore. She did not drift, but was towed on to the shore by the tug. The pilot directs the course of the steamer. I am certain that the tide did not put the ship ashore—that is, so for as I know. There may, however, have been a set of the tide of which I was not aware; if so, It was not apparent. If the ship had been kept further from the shore I am of opinion that she would not have gone aground. If the vessel had been farther out she would have fetched the buoy just the same, and I consider that the pilot committed an error of judgment in not keeping further from shore. The ship did not drift more ashore after she smelt the ground, but on the contrary canted with her head off shore. Every effort was made to get her off, but it could not be effected until she was lightened of about 4,000 bags of sugar. I think that every accident of this kind that occurs in the harbor is likely to damage the Port in the eyes of outsiders. I think that there was not the slightest reason for this accident to have occurred. If I were again coming into Port I should not hesitate in giving Pilot Moore charge of any vessel I might bt captain of, nor should 1 have less confidence In him from the fact of his having taken the Jasper aground. I think the buoy should bo shifted, or a different course shaped. The Chairman slated that all the evidence intended to be heard having been given, the further hearing of the cose would bo adjourned to a special meeting, which would be hold on Thursday at three o’clock.