STRANDING OF THE HIMITANGI.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9255, 20 April 1912, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE HIMITANGI.

INQUIRY OPENED. CONFIDENCE IN THE CAPTAIN. U (PlB PBEBd ASfInniATIONO " WELLINGTON, April 19. ; Tho Magisterial inquii-y into the strand- *! ing of tho steamer Jlinutangi at tho » Chathams Islands on February 11 opened jj to-day/ •'■'., ~ ' ~' J, Captain Cowan, master of- tho vessel, " gave qviden'ce that the night,before the «; vessel went ashore at Waitangi, an anchor < watch jwas-set. Early next morning he J. felt tho ship roll, and took steps to pro- ) Vent her from going on the beach, but was unsuccessful. She touched the bottom, ,« and-enquiries were not much use ' then. .? The watch' was kept by a fireman, who did not think-it would bo better to have an « A.B. on watch. The vessel was on the J beach for aboutscven weeks. Ho; made i manv attempts to get her off. and aventually'she was refloated. The cable gave ' way owing lb tho pin of the shackle breaking. It. was an old shackle, but looked all right., . i ■ .- Thos. Sawyers, second mate, said that tho vessel lost three'anchors a month or two before. The cable had parted a num- i ber of times. . ' Arthur Calvert, Government surveyor i of ships,, gave, it as his.opinion that the j accident occurred because there was not i •sufficient cable out. • . Tho statement was made by counsel that the Directors of the Chathams Islands _ Fishing- Company still retained confidence . in Captain Cowan. I THE CAPTAIN ABSOLVED. WELLINGTON, April 19. The Court absolved tho captain of the , steamer Himitangi from any carelessness in i connection with the stranding at the Chathams, and returned, his,certificate, we Court was of opinion that'Captain-Cowan was careful in the management of the vessel .... 1 The Court added that the captain, in leaving a fireman to take the anchor watch, only followed a practice which had hitherto prevailed on the steamer. The two nautical assessors, however, were strongly of opinion that such a practice could not bo allowed in' future. Dr. McArthur, S.M., held that the word ■ "seamen" in tlio Act included a fireman. No order was made as to costs.