RIPPLE ENQUIRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 September 1924, Page 5

RIPPLE ENQUIRY

MARAROA CAPTAIN’S EVIDENCE.

(Per Press Association).

WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. The magisterial inquiry into the loss of the steamer Ripple was resumed, dayCaptain Sewell, master of the steamer Mararoa, said his vessel left Lyttelton on (he evening of August 6 for Wellington. The weather was not bad till he got to Kaikoura, when the wind freshened about one in the morning. At 2.50 he, got a wireless that the Ripple had broken down off Cape Palliser and wanted assistance. The Mararoa was then 50 miles off Kaikoura. On receipt, witness went to the bridge, and prepared to shape a \ course for Palliser. It was beginning to set in to rain. At 5 o’clock he got the approximate bearing of Cape Campbell lighthouse. He then set a course, definitely for Cape Palliser. Owing to the heavy s.ea, and heavy beam wind, he allowed for leeway. It was flood tide in the Strait. That course would have taken him, five miles off Palliser. He ran 40 miles by the log and saw darkness ahead which appeared to be the loom of land. He then reduced speed. A hard southerly gale was then blowing. The ship was shipping heavy seas. At 9.12 he saw the loom of land abeam, and he again altered the course, and dodged around, steering various courses." H e stood in as close as he thought safe under the circumstances. Heavy rain kept shutting out a view of the land. At 11.52 the weather lifted, and showed the outline of land quite clear. The lighthouse was bearing N. 56 west, six miles away. (Proceeding).