THE LIZZIE BELL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 174, 3 August 1901, Page 2

THE LIZZIE BELL.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY. [By Telegraph Press Association.] New Plymouth, last niglit. Tho Lizzie Bell inquiry was resumed this morning. James Buttcrworth, who was sent by the Collector of Customs to report on tho boats and look after wreckage, said tho lifeboat should bo steered with a steer-oar, not the rudder, or it was liable to capsize. Claude Barrow, the first mate, said the whole of the crew were perfectly sober when they loft Wellington. When he came on duty lie saw Stephen’s Island lighthouse. The second mate gave him the course, north-west magnetic, and while he was on duty tho course was unaltered. He was relieved again by the second mate at S o’clock, and gave him the course, N.N.W. He knew no

more till the vessel struck. The only explanation of the disaster ho could offer was that something may have affected the compasses, or some heavy under-cur-rent may have carried the vessel out of her course. There was no standard compass on board. The captain did the navigating work. Arbucklo, an apprentice, said he was on watch when the vosssel struck. Ho heard Simmons say there was land ahead just before the vessel struck.

Later. —James Lutterworth, as the result of 20 years’ experience of surf boats, said the lifeboat was as good as anyone could wish for. If the steer oar had been used ho considered that probably not a life would have been lost. The sea anchor would have prevented the boat getting broadside on. He would have taken the same course as the captain, and put all the men in the lifeboat, but would have used one of the other boats as a drag. The chief mate, Barrow, corroborated the captain’s evidence. The only theory he could advance for the ship gotting out of her course was that either thoro was a strong unknown undercurrent, or special magnetic influence affecting the compasses. Arbucklo, an apprentice, was allowed to sit whilo giving evidence, owing to swollen and blistered feet. He said that about 11.10 Simmons told him there was land in sight. Witness could not sec whether it was land or a cloud. At his suggestion Simmons reported the matter to the second mate. Shortly after the captain called all hands on deck. Ticked and Harding were also examined, but gave no fijesh evidence of importance. Grant, captain of the Takapuna, in port to-day, had been subpoenaed, but declined to leave his vessel, owing to the state of

the weather, fearing that his ship would break her moorings. The Court decided, with the consent of counsel for Captain Rees, to accept the contents of the New Zealand Pilot as expert evidence on the state of the tides and current in the Straits. The decision will, if possible, be given on Monday.