NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Grey River Argus, 13 July 1922, Page 7

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

RONA MISHAP. THE MASTER’S EVIDENCE. AUCKLAND, July 12. The nautical inquiry into the stranding of the Bona on Flat Rock began this morning. James Alan Wallis, master of the Kona, stated in evidence, that at 10 a.m. on June 27 he sighted Poor Knights, and passed four miles west of Little Barrier. The weather conditions were good. Flat Rock was sighted by the third officer at about 6 p.m. Witness went on the bridge and saw the light a quarter point to starboard, bow bearing south three-quarter east. The Kona w;is about seven or eight miles off the light. Witness then brought the light right ahead. The chief officer was on the bridge with him. About 6.15 p.m., lie gave the man at the wheel the order to bring the light right ahead. The custom was to steer straight for Flat Rock till about a mile or a mile and a-lialf off, then edge the ship inside. That night the land about was discernable but there was no outlined point to take bearings from to westward. It was largely a matter of guess work to arrive at the moment of the turning point. Witness told the mate to steer for the light and left the- bridge. Replying to cross-examination witness said that when he left the bridge, he left an experienced officer. There seemed absolutely nothing to worry about. He was changing to warmer clothing in his room when the mate called out

asking whether be should pass inside or outside of the light. Witness replied, ‘‘lnside as usual,” and was putting on an overcoat to go on the bridge when the vessel struck. Asked how did the mate come to run on the rock, witness replied: It is incomprehensible. Would the lighting of a trawler deceive him.—certainly not. He could not have mistaken his two lights. In reply to a question, witness said that the look-out man on the forecastle head told him he called out before the Bona struck, and asked was there anybody on the bridge. The man add cd that lie called out a warning when they were pretty close up. Captain Wallis continued that he said to the mate: ‘‘My God, what have you done?” The mate replied: ‘‘We have hit Flat Rock. You put your trust in me, and 1 have let you down! or words to that effect. Witness then ' ordered the boats to be swung out, and took other measures to safeguard lives. Mr Mays, counsel for the department: The mate says lie called to you when lie thought he was about a mile from the light; how can you account for him being a mile ahead of where he thought I he was ’ Witness: He miscalculated his distance, 1 suppose. Witness added that he considered he was perfectly justified in leaving the bridge when he did. FURTHER EVIDENCE. AUCKLAND, July 12. I Cyril Talbert Grindley, chief officer i of the Bona, stated in evidence that . about 6 a.ni. he relieved the third ofi fleer on the bridge. Captain Wallis I followed him on to the bridge, and the i third officer passed the word ‘‘same course!” and said he had raised Flat Bock light slightly on the starboard bow. Before the Captain went below, he told witness to head for the light. Witness steadied the ship on her course Witness entered the chart room on the bridge for a couple of minutes at half past 6, to enter an order in the log book. The ship struck at 6.47. He had called down to the master a couple ,'ctf minutes before that|, (iq.king ‘‘are you going inside,” and the Master replied: ‘‘Yes, the same as usual!” , Ho was more than ordinarily careful, but that was not owing to the wea- | ther conditions. (Proceeding.)