WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

Mataura Ensign, 23 February 1909, Page 3

WRECK OF THE PENGUIN.

i • INQUIRY RESUMED. CAPTAIN NAYLOR'S EVIDENCE. PER UNITED I'll ESS ASSOCIATION. WiiLLI.sGiUA, i'eb. 22. Continuing ins evnreneo at the resumed inquiry to-day into the wreck ol iiie i'enguin, ill reply to questions, Capiam Naytor said he was oil the deck tor uve minutes to gel his waterproor, and lie was just near [the bridge when the ship |weut down. Good order prevailed, barring excitement ol two passengers und a member of the crew, who let No. boat out of tho falls. Witness drifted ashore on an upturned boat. Keferring to the statement that a master frequently lost all lights in Cook's Strait, counsel added: Is it the practice, under these iCircuins lances, in going through ;tho dtrails, for musters to go' on their course?

Witness: Yes. Because all masters set a safe course and continue on.

Counsel here .. read regulation 33, which specified ithat should ioggy weather sel in when a steamer is coasting or in the neighborhood oi land, tho captain must take charge of the ship, the lead must be frequently used, and, if soundings suggest the slightest doubt of the course the ship is running, her heau must be turned away from what is considered the direction of land, ami ner progress stayed until her exact position is ascertained.

Counsel asked witness if it was not his duty under the regulations to put the , ship ,uuay from land after :»,15 p.m. I. did not consider it so, replied the witness. The course 1 jsel slioulu Have taken us clear.

Jle did everything in his power to ensure iLhe safety of passengers alio crew. fHic boats were fully pro-

visionod mid the tanks sealed at the last bout drill. The sails were in good order. The .Penguin had enough boat and raft accommodation to c.ouipl,\ with the Government requirements. Further evidence was given and the Court rose till the morning. INO.UIRY CONTINUED. SEA CAPTAINS' EVIDENCE. WELLINGTON, Feb. 23. The magisterial inquiry into the wreck .it the steamer Penguin was resumei. to-day, before Dr .McArthur, 5..M., Cap iaiii J. W. Heed, of Auckland, and Captain Charles Ale Arthur, of Wellington, the .Marine Department was represented by Air Myers, the Union Company by Mr Levi (in the absence through illness of Air Wilford), and Captain Nay(or and .Mr Luke (second engineer) bj Air Herdman.

Captain Kennedy, of the Mapourika. stated that on the Saturday following cite wreck he passed through Cook Strait with the Mapourika, hound iron the AYost Coast to Wellington. It toolhim 21 hours to "do 13 miles, lu wit ness' opinion the course steered by Cap tain Naylor on the fatal night 'was a sale one under ordinary conditions. Tin abnormal set of the tide through tin strait would account for the accident.

Counsel: When there is no light visible in the strait it is suggested that it is the duty of a captain to put out tc ■••ea. If thai were the rule what would happen :- Witness: It could not be dune. At almost every point in New Zealand tin weather alters. It might be calm at the Brothers and a gale be blowing at I'orawhiti. 11 a captain followed tin ;-ourso .suggested he Would be stopping .m-.l pulling out all the time. You musi .■mi your ship to a position.

Counsel: You must keep her going:Witness: Yes, in Cook Strait, when .here are undue iniluences against you. Caotain Dewhurst. who was also ailed by Captain Navlor's counsel, Uatcd that on the 13th'inst. his vessel, the Putaki, was sent eight or nine miles out of her course while bound from Pieton to Wellington. He hao never experienced such a heaVv "set" before. TUT, LAST SCItYEY.

Captain Stringer, Assistant Superiueiident,. .said lie hud last surveyed th< rVngnin in July, 1908. Her compasses .vere adjusted in December last. Tile ,'essel was in thoroughly good order, uid tlu; boats were particularly good. The falls, of the boats were also ill good itder. The hoiits would accommodate 13'.) people and the rafts 41. ANOTHER 3101 »Y RECOVERED. WELIJNOTO.N, Feb. 1!!!. Anotlier body was recovered at the scene of the wreck this evening. It has inot been identified yet. 'J'he body is that of a man, and on one of tho lingers is a ring in the shape of a true-lover's knot. ITNEIi.U, AT .NELSON. NELSOX, Feb. 23. A seipiel to the Penguin wreck in: die f uncial to-t!av of .Mrs Amelia Evans, liftli daughter of the late ill Kichard Kiny, of "Wakelield, aiid wifi if Mr Herbert Evans, of Kapongit I'aranaki. There was ii large attendance, and all the Hags in llie town were flown at half-mast in memory ot he deceased, who was .12 vears of age in.] was only married a year ago last Christmas. •