THE ACCIDENT TO THE TAKAPUNA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7001, 25 April 1884, Page 5

THE ACCIDENT TO THE TAKAPUNA.

[BY TKtEGBAPH.—PEESS ASSOCIAXIO&.f' '' '~" Dukedis, Thursday. ~ The Takapona enquiry commenced to-day, before Mr. Carew, K.M., with Captains - Thomson and Scott as Nautical Assessors. ■• Captain Jones, in the coarse of his evidence, eaid:—On/November 22 left Mean- ; kau for New Plymouth, arriving at ■ the ; latter place at-midnight. Previous-to this '. the vessel never touched. .Left New Ply- . month an hour after arrival. Was on the- ■ bridge when she left, and remained there < half-an-hour. It was a. clear moonlight ' night, and she was going at thirteen - knots. The second mate was in charge when witneis left the bridge.. When three ■ milea from land gave verbal orders as to the • course; told the second mate to keep S.E. - fS., and in no case to go nearer the land -' than two miles. A qnarter of an hour after,' - after going below, he was roneed by a rattle ' of the wheel goiDg over. Went on deck. Found the wheel hard over, and the ship ' about a mile and a half from land ; then a ! little to the southward of Egmont light. Sept the ship oat, and. , resumed her former course. Shortly afterwards the second mate told him he thought had touched;-U but witness did not feel anything. • Had . no conversation with anyone else on board about the veieel striking. No special order : about pumps was made on this occasion. She ; did not make more than the usual , quantity: ■ of water, nor wasiher speed slackened. The _ damage was'found when she was docked, , He believed the damage .to have been sus- , tained at Manukau, ae she grounded in a bed : of scoria rooks on January 30, in trying to - leave the wharf. - He had not reported it* be- .: came he did nob think any damage was done.—- ! ,■ Thomai Hudson, purser on the Manapoari.j.-".■■ .stated : I was employed on the Takapuna in :; November last; • On the night in,question: , slept in .one of the etate-rooraa.. Pelt-.no;; shock cf the vessel striking, and knew V nothing to indicate that she had etruak.—To/. Mr. Hackwood : None of the pasaengera eaid, , anything to me about the-veaael having, struck, but I heard rumours about her having : struck. It was reported;about the ship in, the morning that one of the pasasnger* said--' she hadstruok. -Thelnquiry,waa.adjonrnea tiU Tuesday next, ,-.;-• $■.'■.>.-. .;.:■-.:',.