Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1867.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 835, 16 March 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1867.

We have this morning a mournful duty to perform — 'that of recording the death by drowning, under very melancholy circumstances, of at at least two seamen. The generally received opinion is that there were three meu on board the ill-fated vessel, but two were distinctly seen from the top of Sciude Island. It is painful to think that two fellow creatures should have been swept into eternity, before the eyes of so many, without au effort having been made to rescue them ; but the evidence given at the inquest goes to shew that all preparation was made to attempt to go off to the wreck, but that, upou receiving au intimation from the barrack hill that the poor fellows were goue, the attempt was abandoned as a useless risk of human life. At the iuquest, yesterday, Captain Cellem said that the life boat was not a good one ; and we have heard the same thing said by the late pilot, Mr. Murray, as well as by the late Mr. 11. Morrison, both competent judges. The feeling is universal that the boat is unsafe, and hence the reluctance shown by seafaring men in the late emergency, to trust themselves in her in such a sea. This question should at once be set at rest. Napier is a port which cannot dispeuse with a serviceable and reliable life boat, and if the present one has not these qualities it should be condemned. We would suggest an immediate survey of the

boat, and a report, by competent men, upon its capabilities. In the event of such report beiug unsatisfactory, which we fear would be the case, steps should be taken to obtain a good boat, one that would not be either defective or unwieldy, but a handy boat that could be used upon an emergency without vexatious waiting for a crew or anything else. This is a matter which we are sure will receive proper attention from. the Grovermnent.