The Wreck of the Tasmania.

Hastings Standard, Issue 395, 10 August 1897, Page 3

The Wreck of the Tasmania.

THE NAUTICAL ENQUIRY. [By Telegraph.] fPer Press Assoeiatioi>./ Auckland, August 9. Captain M'Gee, recallerl by Mr Hugh Campbell and questioned with reference to his statement as to the place where the ship struck, explained that he understood the spot was about two miles to the northward and westward of Table Cape—not doe west of the Cape. He could see Table Cape when the ship struck. The next witness called was Frederick Joseph Wilcock, late chief officer of the Tasmania. He deposed, in answer to Mr Tole :—I remember when the Tasmania arrived at Gisborne on July 29th. The wind was blowing pretty fresh about south by east; it was a moderate gale or half a gale, with the sea and sky cloudy and dull. I could see about five or six miles in daylight—it was not misty. The steamer went up slowly to the anchorage and hung about off the breakwater for a while At 5.30 p.m. we were just close to the anchorage oft" the centre of the bay. I remained on deck till 8 o'clock ; the vessel was going slow ahead, steering S.S.E. from 5.80 to that hour. I got the course from the captain and gave it to the man at the wheel. When I left the bridge I was relieved by the third officer. The ship was then going as I have described. I gave Mr M'Grath the course, and told him to keep a good look-out and watch his steering. I also told him the captain was on deck ; he had been on deck all my watch. S.S.E. is not the usual course from Gisborne to clear Table Cape ; south by east a quarter "east is the usual course, but that is after clearing Poverty Bay. We usually steer by the commander's orders, but on this occasion we steered S.S.E. till we cleared Young Nick's Head. I took a bearing of Young Nick's Head at a quarter to 8, which bore west by the standard compass and the breakwater light 1 ore northwest by N. a quarter W. We were at this time just over four miles from Youny Nick's Head and about the same distance from Tuahina Point A quarter of an hour after I left her steering S.S.E. If there is a strong wind blowing or a heavy sea the course is varied from Gisborne, but the usual course is S. by E. a quarter E. from Young Nick's Head. The second officer, Mr Nicholson, deposed that the boats were all in good order. He found when in his bo? t a strong current, and it was as much as he could do to keep off the land. Chief Steward Henderson'was a good boatman, and the witness attributed the loss of the boat to lack of judgment in landing in the surf or exhaustion. This day.

The Tasmania enquiry was continued this morning. Third officer McOrath said that when he came on deck the first mate pointed out land and gave instructions for the watch. W ilcock said keep south south-east and a good look out. The steamer was going dead slow. He kept that course till nine, when the captain came up and altered the course south by east half east, full speed. The captain then went below. He continued that course for about 10 minutes, when the captain altered it to south by east quarter east. He said he was to call him at eleven, when probably they would sight land. He kept the course till seven minutes to eleven when the steamer struck. He saw a light on the starboard bow. It disappeared in lOsecs. The land was on the starboard bow. He hauled out two points and called the captain, who gave the order " starboard." The vessel struck at a speed of ten knots.