THE KAMA'S MISHAP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9137, 9 February 1910, Page 3

THE KAMA'S MISHAP.

TOTAL LOSS: £125,000

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND. Fob. 7. The Kaipnra inquiry was resumed this morning. Thomas Dyke gave the result of soundings at the Railway Wharf at I low water on Saturday last. In no I case did the soundings give less depth ! than was shown on the chart. Frank Waters, diver, described the visit of inspection he made to the berth occupied by the. Kaipara at the Railway Wharf. He found a large quantity of stones, weighing up to one hundredweight. None bore evidence of contact with a ship's bottom or anything. Walters also examined the shoal in Rangitoto Channel. He said it protruded three or four feet above the sea bottom. He sawgrooves on the rock and patches of red paint. About 30 yards to the south-east be found another rock on which was a piece of copper sheathing An officer from H.M.S. Challenger deposed that a diver from the warship located the rock in the fairway, the highest point being 7 feet above the bottom. The depth of water above it was 24 feet 9 inches. According to the chart he considered the Kaipara took a safe course. In the course of evidence J as. M. Bri"hum, secretary of the Auckland Harbour Board, said that a point to which he wished to refer was the harbourmaster's evidence as to the instructions he received m the matter oi : searching for this rock. Captain Dueler's theory was that the vessel had struck inside the hve-fathom line, and then gon? on to the position where she finally settled. Air Kettle: Captain Duder has stated that he was instructed not to look for the rock until the ?scw Zealand Shipping Co. took action. Wit!K'-<=' What did happen was tnat the chairman said that it would not be nectary for any soundings to be mad-=! r-iitil the captain of the Kaipara indicated where the ship nail touched bottom. When the existence of the rock was ascertained by Messrs Bradney and Binns the harbourmaster immediately caused soundings to be made without any instruction and simnlv in the exercise of his duty Mr" Kettle : I thought that Captain Cornwall discovered the rock. Mr Cotter: Yes, but Messrs Bradney and Bimis'e launches were used in the search. Captain Duder (harbourmaster), recalled stated that he wanted to say in reply to Mr Brigham's evidence that he" got clear instructions not to make soundings until the Kaipara s owners located the exact position. These instructions were issued by the chairman in Mr Brigham's presence. Mr Kettle: Yes, it seems evident that you were told to stand aside, and do nothing until the ship's people had first moved in the matter. We are satisfied about that.

Captain Duder: Thanks, your \Tbrehip. Charles V. Hought'on, agent m Auckland for the New Zealand Shipping Co., owners of the Kaipara, estimated the damage to the ship it-

self, including insulation, at from £15,000 to £20,000. Mr Cotter: What do you put damage to cargo at? Witness: I have figured it out at, roughly, £85,000 to £90,000. The butter alone depreciated by about £25,000. The total loss, everything included, would, I think, be not ]/ess than £125,000. Witness added that he could give no particulars as to insurances, as they were controlled in London.

The final and amended questions submitted to the Court by Mr lliddings, on behalf of the Marine Department, were as follow :— (L) Whether the stranding of the s.s. Kaipara was caused by any default, negligence, or error in judgment on the part of the master or other people on board the said steamer ? . (2) Did the mpster make sufficient endeavour to ascertain the cause of the list to starboard of the said vessel before leaving port, and did the list contribute to the casualty, and, if to, to what extent?'