INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE TAUPO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5395, 3 March 1879, Page 4

INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE TAUPO.

Tauranga, Saturday. The official inquiry into the loss of the Taupo was commenced on Friday, before Mr. Brabant, Captain Johnston, of the Marine Department, and Captain Morton. Mr. MclCeltar appeared for the Marine Department. Captain Cromarty deposed that he left Auckland at 4 30 on the 17th, and arrived off the North Rocks about G. 50 a.m. on the ISth. The wind was light and variable, the tide at about half-ebb. Went full speed to the north of the rocks. After passing them, made the usual course up to the red buoy, keeping nearer the red buoy than the black. After-i passing the red buoy, hauled up, leaving the red buoy 3J points on the bow. Immediately aftenvards found she was in a current, running to Stony beach, which I wa3 not aware of. Ordered the helm hard a-porfc, aud being a good distance from tho buoy, and with deep water marked ou tho chart, I had no fear of her striking. Had the chart been correct, I had 19 feet of water. Where I struck, about 1 '2fathoms is shewn at low water spring tides. Now, whereas at less than half-ebb going into a harbour you consider yourself safe if inside the line of the buoys. Had it not been the ebbing tide, she would have been about 100 feet further out in the channel. Cross-examined: I considered it safe to round the Mount at a cable or a cable-and-a-half distance. I saw the current setting in-shore soon after leaving the red buoy, and ordered the helm hard a-port. As soon as I noticed it, the helm was over hard a-port, but, before the vessel could answer it, she had struck. The second officer and a seaman were at the wheel a3 we passed the red buoy, and the chief officer was stauding by to give them a hand. He usually doe 3 so when we have any sharp turns to make. I thought there was plenty of water under the vessel at tho time she struck. It was a very feiv minutes after the helm was put over that the vessel struck. She might have answered her helm quicker bad I given full steam, but I had no idea there was any danger of her striking, nor could I have takeu the other bend with the ebb tide running out. I have not seen any alteration in the position of the buoys since I first came : here. The position of the buoy on my chart ' has been altered from its first position. Sailing directions say that you can haul ' sharp up from the black buoy to the beacon. You can always get in a line o£ any buoys in a channel; when passed one buoy can pass next at the same distance. The reason I had not more steam was on account of having the sharp turn at Stony Point. You cannot easily bring the helm hard over going full spsed. 1 never had any lead~ ing marks pointed out to me, and came as near a3 I could on the same courses as the pilot brought me. I did not think it necessary to have soundings taken. Tho owners would not have objected to my taking a pilot; they never did. When I got my instructions, tho pilot did not examine me. £ attribute the accident to water being shallower than maikol on the chart. If soundings on the ensrt were correct, -we should have had five feat of water under us when we strack. —The evidence of Mr. Garrard) chief officer,

was merely confirmatory of the above ~Tho E /i wc , na late this evening an,? brought down Mr. Tinne, who will t-v. I charge of the pumps, and also a diver T? " 18 e , x P e .?, t ® d thafc OD Monday the whole of tU , coal will be out, and there will then k„ difficulty in floating the vesseL