HARBOUR DISASTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 17, 31 December 1932, Page 6

HARBOUR DISASTER

PRELIMINARY INQUIRY THE COURSES OF VESSELS. HEARING ADJOURNED. A preliminary inquiry into the disaster which occurred at the entrance to the Inner Harbour on Wednesday night when the lives of ten men were lost by drowning was held before the Controller of Customs, Mr H. Buffell, at Port Ahuriri yesterday afternoon. Mr J Morling watched the proceedings on behalf of Richardson and Co., owners of the Tu Atu, while Mr T. H. R. Gifford appeared on behalf of the Napier Harbour Board. The inquiry was adjourned until 8.30 o’clock this morning, w-hen the evidence of three more witnesses will be heard.

Eric Gunner Mentzer, who was in charge of the launch Doris, stated that although he did not have a certificate, he had always been used to the sea. On the night of the disaster he picked up men from the Port Hunter and then from the Port Brisbane, there being aboard the launch 31 men, including himself. He could not say the time the accident happened, but he thought it was about 11.20 p.m. HELM HARD OVER. He was approaching the Eastern Pier, and when he first saw the Tu Atu he put his helm as hard over as possible to bring the launch over to the Eastern Pier. He was in the channel when the collision occurred. When he first saw the Tu Atu she was about 20 to 25 yards away. The Tu Atu first appeared to him to be stuck in the channel. The light on the launch was operating at the time and was in good order. It showed white, green or red according to direction. The Tu Atu, when he first saw her, was in the channel inside the Western Pier. After seeing her green light she appeared to turn toward the launch, when he saw her red light. He did not notice that the Tu Atu was bearing down on the Doris. From the time he first saw the red light of the Tu Atu, which he did not know was that of the vessel until the collision occurred, from three to four minutes had lapsed. The best depth in the channel was toward the Western Pier. At the time the tide was running out, low water being about midnight or perhaps a little later. The launch at the time was drawing from 3ft. 6in. to Aft. of water. To avoid the accident he put his helm hard over to bring the launch up toward the Eastern Pier.

A GLANCING BLOW. The Doris was struck a glancing blow nearly amidship, but it was not a heavy blow. The men sprang to the port side which resulted in them being thrown into the water. If they had not done that, he thought it probable that the disaster would have been avoided or largely mitigated. Witness considered that there was nothing else he could have done to have avoided the accident. His eyesight had been tested before the Marine Board and the Board of Trade. The Doris, which was constructed of wood, had a tonnage of under five tons. T! i weather at the time was fine but hazy. There was a slight breeze, while a moderate swell was running. To Mr Gifford: Witness thought he was well on the eastern side of the centre of the channel when he turned the launch to port. To Mr Morling; Witness said that the master of the Te Atu should have seen his green light at the time witness first saw his green light. He had to travel in the direction he took toward the estern pier, in order to obtain sufficient depth. As far as the rule of entering the harbour was concerned, he had no right to be where he was, but seeing the Tu Atu’s green light, he thought he was safe in continuing his course.

PROPER COURSE ON WEST. To Mr Ruff ell: Witness said that his proper course to enter the channel was on the western side. To Mr Gifford: Witness said he had a license from the Napier Harbour Board to drive a launch. Robert William Martin, holder of a river steamer master’s certificate, master of the Tu Atu, stated that on the night of the accident he was proceeding to Wairoa, having left the wharf at 11.5 p.m He proceeded down the channel, and soon after leaving the Iron Pot he saw the white light of the Doris. He crossed over to the western side where the channel was running to obtain sufficient water. The Tu Atu was drawing about five feet aft. When about three-quarters of the way across toward the western pier he straightened up, having the white light of the Doris on his port bow He kept as close to the eastern side as the low depth of water would permit. His vessel at the time was dragging on the mud. He kept the helm hard over to keep the Tu Atu as far over to the east as possible, which was his correct course As far as he could judge he was abreast of the beacon on the Western Pier when the collision occurred. At the time he was heading slightly to the east of north. He was not more than about one-third of the way across the fairway from the Western Pier, being as far over as the depth would permit. SPEED OF TWO KNOTS. He was travelling at about two knots and was just beginning to gather speed. The white light of the Doris remained on his port bow. At no time did he see a red or a green light He did not anticipate danger, as he thought the launch had only one light The Doris was on his port bow coming up on the western side of the channel He thought they would pass port to port. — When he realised there was danger it was too late to rectify it as the Doris’ light came straight across his bow. To Mr Gifford witness said he was at the wheel at the time He heard a look-out man call out the warning almost immediately prior to the crash. “Look out for the launch.” The collision followed almost in a moment. The weather was fine while the atmosphere was clear, but dark. There was only a slight lift in the sea. The compass on the Tu Atu was in good order.

To Mr Ruffell: Witness said he first saw the light of the Doris about seven to eight minutes before the collision. He stopped his engines immediately after the collision occurred. When he saw the launch after the accident it was all awash. He stood by after the mishap for a considerable time to give assistance. PASSENGER’S EVIDENCE. John Thomas Fenwick, owner of the launch Doris, stated that on the night of the disaster he was a passenger on the launch bringing men in from the roadstead, Eric Mentzer being in charge. He thought it would be a few minutes before 11 o’clock when they left the Port Brisbane for Port Ahuriri, and in about ten or fifteen minutes they were approaching the piers. He did not see the Tu Atu or her lights until he heard a voice on the launch call out: “Tu Atu.” Within a second the collision occurred. At the time he was discussing business with his foreman, the late Mr Low. Witness was standing amidships facing back toward the stern at an angle of about 45 degrees.. While waiting on the Port Brisbane he noticed that the launch’s three lights were burning brightly. The lights were mounted on a standard on the fore deck and there was no one standing so as to obscure the lights in any way. His version of the disaster was that the Tu Atu shouldered the launch rather than struck it, and that the Doris did not turn turtle. The men all sprang to the port side of the launch away from the Tu Atu, the latter brushing the Doris sufficiently to tip the men out. While under the water he struck the bottom of the launch twice, and when he came to the surface the Doris was wash on an even keel. To Mr Gifford: Witness said that about half-way in from the Port Brisbane he picked up the entrance lights, and thought the course was right to take them in on the inside of the eastern pier. FIRST NEWS ON SHORE. William Frank Bunce, nightwatchman, employed by the Napier Harbour Board, said he let the Tu Atu go out about 11.5 p.m. He observed her go out of the Iron Pot and round the cattle wharf, watching her until she was halfway down the channel. She appeared to be then in midstream. He then rode round to the watchhouse on his bicycle, when bo heard the Tu Atu sound her whistle. He knew that something must be wrong, so he rode to the Jull Wharf and informed Captain Blundell of the tug Kuri, who said: “Right. I will go now and see what is wrong.” The Kuri left immediately. Witness was informed shortly afterwards that there had been a collision. He then communicated with Captain Sharp, Captain White Parsons and Captain Allan. Capt. Richard Blundell, master of the tug Kuri, stated that on the night of the disaster he was ordered to stand by the Koau until midnight. When he heard the Tu Atu’s whistle, he thought that the vessel was aground. The nightwatchman also informed him of the sounding of the whistle, and with the thought of the launch possibly having been run into, he left immediately in the Kuri. When he turned into the channel he could see under the light from the Eastern Pier the men in the water. When he arrived on the scene the launch was still buoyant, being about midstream and abreast of the Western Pier light. The men were all floundering about in the water holding on to anything that was floating.

NINE MEN PICKED UP. With the assistance of the dinghy off the Tu Atu he picked up nine from the water. As far as he knew eight of the survivors swam ashore. Witness took soundings where he located the launch and found there was eight feet of water. Captain Horace White-Parsons, harbour-master, stated that he received a call from the nightwatchman at about 11.25 p.m., informing him that a collision had occurred at the entrance to the Inner Harbour. He gave orders to have the pilot boat’s crew called immediately, and at 11.40 p.m. he left the berth in charge of the Ponui, proceeding down the channel, when opposite the end of the Western Pier he found the tug Kuri and the Tu Atu. Going alongside the Kuri, he asked Captain Blundell if all hands were safe when he was told that some of the men had been picked up. Witness patrolled over a large area to the westward for over an hour. He then communicated with the master of the Tangaroa which was outside the entrance, informing him of the accident afterwards returning to port. To Mr Blundell: Witness said he found at about 11.45 p.m. the Tu Atu, Kuri and the launch all together about 200 feet north of the Western Pier beacon. It was then explained that before that time efforts had been made to tow the Doris seaward so as to> make way to bring in the Tangaroa. To Mr Blundell: Witness said that while he was out the visibility was perfect. He noticed that the Tu Atu’s lights were burning brightly. At this stage the proceedings were adjourned till this morning.

NATION-WIDE SYMPATHY

GOVEBNOR-GENERAL’S WISHES. MAYOR TO VISIT RELATIVES. Both the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, have expressed the wish that the Mayor of Napier shall personally convey their sympathy with the sorrowing relatives of those who perished on Wednesday night. His Excellency wired: “Please convey to relations of those who have lost their relatives in the launch disaster, the deep sympathy of Lady Bledisloe and myself in their sad bereavement.” The Mayor has arranged that he and the Mayoress, Miss Vigor Brown, accompanied by Mr P. Mooney, president of the Napier Waterside Workers’ Union, shall visit the homes of the sufferers this afternoon. The Mayor of Gisborne. Mr D. W. Coleman, has telegraphed: “Kindly convey to the relatives of the victims of the very sad catastrophe the sincere and heartfelt sympathy of Mrs Coleman myself and the whole of the people of the Gisborne district.” The Mayor of Timaru, Mr T. W. Satterthwaite: “The sad news from your town was received by the citizens of Timaru with feelings of regret. Will you kindly convey to those bereaved the deepest sympathy with them in their sorrow?” - The Shell Company of New Zealand: “Deeply distressed to Narn of harbour

disaster. Please convey deepest sympathy from our whole staff to those who have suffered bereavement or injury.” brom Mr Moffatt, Mayor of Nelson: —“Have read distressing story of launch calamity. Nelson expresses profound sympathy with bereaved ones.’’ From Mr G. F. Roach, Mayor of Hastings:—“Please convey to relatives of the men lost in waterfront disaster the deep sympathy of Mrs Roach, myself and the citizens of Hastings.”

ROPE MISSING FROM KURI TAKEN FROM LIFE-BUOYS SERIOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS A serious state of affairs was disclosed when the captain and crew of the tug Kuri went to the rescue of the occupants of the launch Doris on Wednesday evening. It was discovered that some of the ropes attached to the lifebuoys on the vessel had been taken, with the result that, had the weather not been so fine and the sea so calm on that fateful night, far more serious consequences might have occurred through the small amount of rope available. The matter of the missing rope was commented upon by Captain R. Blundell, master of the Kuri, who stated that a few months ago the life-buoys had attached to them 30 yards of rope. When they were urgently required on Wednesday evening it was found that some 10 yards were missing, the remainder being neatly coiled up so that the deficiency might not be noticed unless a careful inspection was made. Fortunately, said the captain, the sea was calm, otherwise the task of saving lives would have been hopeless. The foolishness of taking portion of the rope attached to life-buoys cannot be expressed too strongly, and it can only be surmised that the guilty party in the instance of the Kuri acted without thinking of the serious results which might have occurred through his action.

AIDING THE BEREAVED

GENEROUS SUBSCRIPTIONS.

A telegram was received in Napier yesterday morning from Mr Wilfred Kingsford-Smith, brother of Sir Charles, offering to provide five flights in the Southern Cross for £1 each, in aid of the distress fund. He suggested that the flights might be put up for auction. Mr A. McGlashan, of Napier, has kindly consented to conduct an auction sale of the tickets, to be held at a date to be arranged. The Rev. B. R. Brierley has consented to attend to the immediate requirements of the relatives of the drowned watersiders, in order that they may not want for anything before the provisional committee can be called together The following further donations have been received in Napier.

PORT BRISBANE’S DONATION CREW CONTRIBUTES £3l. As a result of subscriptions made by the members of the crew of the Commonwealth and Dominion Line’s Port Brisbane, which up to yesterday was in the roadstead, a handsome donation of £3l is to go to the Napier Mayor’s Harbour Disaster Fund. Captain T. Kippins, master of the Port Brisbane, wrote as follows:— Sir, —On behalf of the members of 'the crew of the Port Bris'bane, I herewith forward the sum of £3l, being the amount raised by subscription from the officers and crew of the s.s. Port Brisbane for the Mayor’s Fund for dependent families of men who lost their lives in the recent marine disaster to the launch Doris.

In forwarding this, we should like to express our deepest sympathy to all families and relatives who have been bereaved by this sad accident.—l am, etc.,

T. KIPPINS Master S.S. Port Brisbane Napier, December 30, 1932.

£ s. d. Previously acknowledged . .. 25 0 0 Mr J. T. Fenwick .. 25 0 0 Mrs J. T. Fenwick .. 25 0 0 Daily Telegraph Co., Ltd. . Lockyer’s (Napier), Ltd. . .. 10 10 0 .. 5 5 0 Holland and Co .. 1 1 0 J. J. Keating .. 1 0 0 W. F. Didcott 5 0 F. Player 5 0 £93 6 0