STORMBIRD WRECKED.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17273, 14 September 1916, Page 2

STORMBIRD WRECKED.

INQUIRY OPENED. r [Pi.r Press Association.] WANGANUI, September 13. The nautical inquiry into the wreck of the Storm bird opened to-day. The assessors were Captains Holm and Irvine and) Mr W. Kerr. S.M. The first witness was Captain Gibson. master of the Storinbird, who stated that the Stormbird was a good ship to navigate, except when light, when she sat deep aft and high forward. She was almost empty on the .night of Saturday, September 2, when, lie rang up the pilot, who told him the bar was workable, and that the Stormbird should get out. His instructions wero to keep well up to tho north wall. After passing Castlecliff Wharf he gradually got into lino with the red beacons, and told tho lamp-trimmer to keep well up to tho north wall.