THE TARARUA INQUIRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 119, 4 June 1881, Page 3

THE TARARUA INQUIRY.

(per united press association.)

DUNEDIN, Last Night.

Judgment in the Tararua inquiry was given to-day. The Court found that the wreck and loss of life were principally caused through the failure of Captain Garrard to ascertain at 4 a.m. on the 29th of April the correct position of the ship, when the simple use of the lead would have told him the distance from the shore, and that the course in which the Tararua was steered from 1.30 to 4 a.m., assuming compasses to be magnetically correct, was an insecure course, and therefore improper, especially 'as a heavy swell and ebb tide tended to set the vessel in ashore. That at 4.25, when the second officer first called the captain's attention to the noise of the breakers, the vessel was off Slope Point, and in dangerous proximity thereto, but the captain' believed her to be off Waipapaga Point. That although it is to be regretted that the second officer did not exercise the power which he had to stop the engines v he found the 6hip in imminent danger, when for the second time he fancied lie heard the breakers, the Court could not come to the conclusion that his not doing so was a negligent omission.' It Was reasonable for him to suppose that the captain had ascertained the position of the ship at 4 a.m., and lie might naturally be impressed with the idea that the hearing of breakers could only be fancy, and took the action he did to report to the captain in terms of his orders. At the same time, they were of opinion that the leaving of the bridge at any time by any officer in charge of the deck when the ship was under way was fraught with extreme danger, and that Captain Garrard's orders to his officers to call him personally were imprudent. In their opinion, the immediate cause of the wreck and loss of life, was the negligent failure of the able seaman, Weston, to keep a proper look-out. That after the vessel-struck and filled, the captain committed an error of judgment in not placing- his passengers in boats. They considered that there were sufficient boats and life buoys in the Tararua, but thought many lives would have been saved had life-belts been available for passengers and crew. In reference to the management of the boats, they thought the loss of the first officer's might have been avoided by more 'skilful management, but although censuring Lindsay for his hick of skill, they were not disposed to say the casualty resulting therefrom was caused by his wrongful act or default. They thought assistance should have been rendered from the Bluff or Invercargill when intimation was first received of the accident; for no passenger vessel on a rock could be considered in other than a dangerous position. Astonishment was expressed that the officers of the Tararua were ignorant of the deviation of the compasses ; but in view of the peculiar discipline on board, the Court were not disposed to say to what degree, if any, ignorance was attributable to their own neglect. The certificates of both officers were then returned.

In conclusion, the Court made tbe following recommendations: — (1.) That a light is urgently required in the neighborhood of Waipapa Point. (2.) That all passenger vessels trading in New Zealand waters be compelled to carry life-belts for minimum number of passengers and crew. (8.) That a regulation be made compelling exercise in the management of boats, at stated intervals.

In answer to a question, the Court said that as the captain had lost his life there was no one against whom an order for costs could be made.