FOUNDERED SCOW

Evening Star, Issue 22365, 15 June 1936, Page 8

FOUNDERED SCOW

AN INQUIRY OPENED THOUGHT TO HAVE STRUCK DRIFTING LOG [Pkr United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June 15. .An inquiry into the sinking of the 35-ton auxiliary scow Kaiaia, near Mercury Bay, on March 26, was opened this morning before Mr Wyvern Wilson, with whom were associated as assessors Captain D. Bell, Captain E. W. Norton, and Mr E. R. Lane. The Crown was represented by Mr V. N. Hubble, who said the Minister of Marine desired to know the cause of the foundering. Captain U. S. Aspden, master, gave evidence that the vessel was owned by the Aspden Shipping Company. It left Auckland at 11.45 a.in. on March 24 with about 20 tons of general cargo and 85 drums of benzine, of which 30 were on deck. Cape Colville was rounded at 6 p.m. The wind was fair, and the vessel was under sail, with her engines running. He went below at midnight, and was called at 2.30 by the engineer/ as the wind was blowing hard from the south-east, and there was a rising sea. At 4.30 the vessel was leaking, and the two deck pumps were manned, the vessel making for Mercury Bay. An hour later the ship was sinking, and unmanageable, and lie gave orders to abandon ship. With the engineer and one of the crew he lowered the lifeboat. The other two members of the crew had been washed overboard, but were picked up by the boat. The scow soon after sank by the head in 35 fathoms of water, about a mile and a-half south of the Castle Rock. Witness was a shareholder in the company, and knew the vessel was uninsured. By an oversight on his part the deck cargo had not been inspected, but he had no trouble with it.

Replying to Mr Gould, for the owners, witness said he knew that, following the severe storm in February, there were a lot of logs floating in the Bay of Plenty. Ho thought the vessel had struck a log without the shock being noticed owing to the- pounding of the seas. The ship was well found and fully manned. The estimated loss to the'company was £1,500.