THE LOSS OF THE TAUPO : REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5491, 23 June 1879, Page 4

THE LOSS OF THE TAUPO : REPORT OF THE COMMISSION.

[by telegraph, press association.] "Wellington, Saturday. The report of the Royal Commission regarding the loss of the Taupo censures the harbourmaster at Tauranga for allowing the buoy to remain in the place whither it had been washed by sea, a considerable distance from the spot which, according to the Admiralty chart, it ought to have occupied, instead of either replacing it or reporting to tha Marine Department its change of position. On the other hand, the Commissioners considered that Cuptain Cromarty was properly condemned, because even his own evidence shewed that the wreck was not caused by the removal of the buoy ; that he was not misled by it, but knew the buoy had moved, and, indeed, had never seen it anywhere else while be had made several visits to the harbour. At the same time, the Commissioners point out that, had the buoy been in its proper place, it could not have failed to attract the attention of the captain to the danger into which he was running, inasmuch as he could not have reached the place where the Taupo struck without actually passing inside the buoy ; still, with a powerful steamer in good order, strongly manned, in fine weather, entering a port well known to the master, he ought to have done so. The Marine Department is entirely acquitted of blamo iu the matter, it being shewn that no report was made as to the buoy having shifted.