TEE HERALD AND GAIRLOCH COLLISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7343, 2 June 1885, Page 6

TEE HERALD AND GAIRLOCH COLLISION

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY,

[Before Judge Seth Sml h, ad Captains Frater u£ Scott, N.utlcal Asessors.]

The enquiry into the collision of the steamers Herald and Gairloch was resumed at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. H. Williamson appeared for the Collector of Customs, Mr. E. Hesketh for the officers of the s.s. Gairloch, and Mr. Theo. Cooper for the officers of the i.e. Herald.

Frederick William Marks, able seamen on board the Gairloch, deposed that he was 03 duty on the morning of the collision. Was stationed on the feroastle head. Hit evidence in the main was corroborative of that given by Captain McArthur and his chief offijer. '

Nicholas Carman, A.B. of the Gairloch, was at the wheel at the time of the collision, taking charge at midnight. The captain came up on the bridge a .few minutes after midnight, and he (witness) saw nothing ahead then. He was staeiing by the buoys, keeping close to the red buoys. He was just rounding the corner buoy when he saw the green light and masthead light of another steamer coming down. The captain ordered him to port the helm, which he did. He then steadied it for a time, and subsequently ported his helm again, when the Gairlock took Mie ground. The vessel was then about a ship's length inside the red buoy. The engines were stopped a little before she grounded, and were then ordered ahead ag%in. He believed the Herald camo on the Waiuku side of the buoy. The foresail was clewed up about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour before the collision. He did not think the Herald was nearer the bank than the Gairlock was when she came round the Horn.

Charles Boyle (lamp-trimmer on the Gairloch) deposed that he had trimmed the lamps on the day of the collision, and recollected trimming the mast-head light. Ernest Stratford, second engineer s.s. Gairloch, said he was in charge on the night of the collision. His first orders were "stand by," and he was leaning on the stop valves when the order was telegraphed, and a second after "slow" was ordered, and " stop " came with about the same interval, tie then received the order " fall speed astern " in a shorter time even than the other orders. Just as the telegraph rung, the engines brought up in about five revolutions, and he knew she was aground. The engines were going astern fire minutes, and had been doing so about three minutes when he felt the collision. After the collision, he got the order, " put the port engine full speed ahead," and about two minutes after he was ordered ta put the starboard engine full speed ahead.

John Buckle, passenger on the s.s. Gairloch, also gave evidence. Captain Wing, Harbour-master, was re. called, and deposed that he meant by the statement that Captain Savory, Was bold in going out of the harbour—simply that his vessel was large, and, for a vessel of that size and draught there .was, a possibility of her scraping on the banks. He meant no reflection on Captain Savoury's competency. George Leek, another passenger on the Giirloch, also gave corroborative evidence. Captain MoArthur was re-called, and dejoseit that since his examination he had taken soundings between the buoy and the bank, tie sounded within pole marked in feet, and made thirteen oasts. The first oast was 14 feet 6 inches, 17 feet 6 inches, 14 feet 2 'nches, 12 feet 9 inches, 12 feet 2 inohes, 12 feet 6 inches. 11 feet 2 inches, 9 feet 6 inches, 9 faet 3 inches,9 feet 2 inches, 8 feet 6 nches, 8 Feet, 7 f<et; the last being on the -dge of the bank, taken at low water spring ride. The rise and fall of tide was about 5 or 7 feet. He measured the distance from -.he buoy to the edge of the bank with a deep tea line, and made it 42 fathoms. To Mr. Williamson : His vessel was 147 feet h length, and the soundings were much deepen than he expected. With his vessel's keel oi he bank, his vessel's head would be 105 fee (•tide the buoys. | Samuel diehard Savoury, master s.s i Herald, produced his certificate for home anr oreigu service, New Zealand, No. 2428 Hi' eft Onohunga Wharf at ten minutes pas' •.wfilve on May 4, and was bound for Grey nouth. It was then about ten minutes after nigh water. Just before he got to Oapt torn he sighted a vessel. He was then ii .•rurge on the flying bridge, and the vessel vas obout two points ~ on his starboard bow. He saw her green lis;ht..->.He. was quite certain about it, and saw it . about two seconds, and then saw his red light. This was abont eight or ten minutes before the collision. He saw no other light. When he I<> to the black buoy off Cape Horn he gave he order to port. His vessal was then being steamed aft, as it was better for quickness than from the bridge. His vessel was i rawing 5 feet 6 inches fore ward and 3 feet +ft. [ The witness indicated on the chart the course of the steamer round tbe buoyj. All the time he was going round the buoy he saw the Gairloch's green light. It took the Gairlooh one minute to change her course. As soon as he saw her green light he : ordered his engines full speed astern.and his vessel came to a dead stop. The Gairloch appeared to be* coming up under full sail, and ran right into the Herald. She was carrying her foresail and topsail. The vessel's bead was knocke 1 tho other way by the collision. [The witness indicated by two models the relative positions of the vessels on the chart, J He kept his engines going astern for about live minutes. He stopped bis vessel for about five minutes, allowing the Gairloch to pass under the stern of his vessel. At the time of the collision he was well down on the north hank of the channel, which was from 150 to 200 yards wide. His mate was on the forecastle watohing the Gairloch. He knew as soon as he saw her green light that she wanted to cross his bows, and he instantly reversed his engines. The only damage to his steamer was the breaking of the anchor stock and the flue of the hawser pipe. There was a dent in the bow of the vessel which, if it was taken out,, would probably cost £100. All that bad been said about him going inside the red buoy was untrue. To Mr. Hesketh: Captain MoArthur the Monday or Tuesday after the collision, in the course of a conversation he had with him, said he thought the Herald was upon the banks. Since being examined before the Collector of Customs, he had recollected catching sight of the green light of the Gairloch for a second or two. It was about eight or ten minutes after seeing the Gair* loch's light that the collision occurred. At four pro. the enquiry was adjourned to half-past ten a.m. to-day.