THE RANGITOTO COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9378, 30 May 1889, Page 6

THE RANGITOTO COLLISION.

The proceedings were continued yesterday by Mr. Thomas Hill, Collector of Customs, being called. He testified to the depositions made by Captains Campbell, Kemp, Sainty, and others at the preliminary inquiry being correct statements of the evidence given before him.

Alfred L. Kemp, master of the Union S.S. Co.'a Australia, then handed in his certificate, and gave evidenco; the ex-amination-in-chief being conducted as bofore by Mr. Hudson Williamson. The witness stated that the Australia left for her regular trip on May 14, shortly after six o'clock, having several passongers and freight on board. Ho was on the bridge in charge going down the harbour, one of the seamen,GeorgeCharloston, steering under his orders. The first time he saw the Essex and Awhina was when about halfway between the North Head and Rangitoto Beacon, when he sighted a masthead light (bright), and a red light about three miles distant, about three points on his sterboard bow. He lost sight of the red light just as he was abreast of "the beacon, owing to a squall passing over tho approaching vessels. As lie was just passing the beacon he altered the Australia's course, and shortly afterwards noticed that there was a double headlight, signifying a vessel in tow, and then sighted a green light. The two vessels (Awhina and Essex) were then, in his opinion, about a mile distant, and straight ahead. Ho considered that tho Australia's red light must have been visible to the Awhina and Essex. After a brief interval ho again changed his conrse, shifting from N. to N.N.E., and then saw tho vessels approaching him end on. He should say they were then about three-quarters of a milo away. His intention in altering his course was "to pass the Essex and Awhina to the eastward. He estimated that the Australia's speed at the time was about eight knots, and tho ebb tide was with her. Ho knew the vessols were coming into rather dangerous proximity. The chief officer 'of the Australia was alongside him on the bridge, and remarked, "They are coming into us," at tho same time signalling the engineer to "stand by." Witness then put his helm hard a-port, stopped his port engine, and ordered the starboard one to be put full speed astern. He then wont full speed ahead with the port engine, but discovered that it had not been stopped at all. He thought by doing this lie would pass tho others at an acute angle and get clear. He did not blow his whistle, but heard the Awhina blow hers about a minute before the collision occurred. If he had starboarded tho Australia's helm and put the starboard engine ahead, ami the port one astern, he thought he would have swung clear without accident. His reason for not doing this was because it was contrary to the rule of tho road when steamers were passing one another. Ho was of opinion that a sailing vessel under tow of a steamer was to be considered as a steamer. The Australia was first struck by the jibboom of the Essex, which broke again the steamer's funnel, and the Australia and Awhina came into contact immediately afterwards. He thought the latter got the weight of the collision. As soon as he could after the vessels struck he went ahead in the Australia to get clear. Witness was then subjected to a minute and lengthy cross examination by the counsel for tho Awhina, Mr. Theo. Cooper. In answer to a question he stated that he did not consider he had made a miscalculation as to the distance of the Essex and Awhina from the Australia. He was taking his course on the proper side of tho Channel, and thought the other had ample time to get out of his way. The angle at which he approached them was so obtuse that he did not consider he was crossing their bows. There must have been a mistake concerning the estimated distance made either by himself or the other captains. By Mr. Jas. Russell (on behalf ; of Captain Schaube of the Essex). The I effect of putting both engines hard astern would have been greater towards stopping the Australia than the going astern with one screw only. His intention was to slow his vessel quickly rather than to stop her. . The Australia was easier to handle than the Awhina and Essex, when lashed together. Re-examined by Mr. J. B. Russell: The second alteration in his steering was made to keep on his course, and not to avoid a collision. The Awhina and Essex were on the seaward side of the Australia throughout. If they had ported their helms, even when 100 yards off from the Australia, they would have avoided any collision. He thought that if either of them had altered their course slightly, they would have passed closely, but gone clear. If the Australia had continued on her course at full speed, they might not have struck. His mate left the bridge for about three minutes, to set the log, and then returned. Tho Australia's log showed that from the beacon to the spot where the collision occurred, she bad traversed j of a mile. There was a chance of, clearing the other vessels if he had kept on at full speed, but it was so close that he did not dare to risk it, and he had to do something to get out of the way. There was no act of his chief officer that he could find fault with in any way ; he obeyed witness's orders, and did all "that he could to aid in avoiding the collision. By Mr. Campbell: If the helm of the Awhina and Essex had been ported, even when 100 yards away from the Australia, the collision, in witness's opinion, would have been avoided ; and the helm of the Australia was ported when witness saw that a collision was imminent.. Witness believed that the collision was caused because of the Essex not porting her helm; it was the duty of those on board ' the Essex to port the helm and pass to seaward. If witness had kept his helm to starboard and the barque's helm had been at port there would have been an end-on collision. It was the duty of thoso on the Essex to port the helm, and ho was expecting that this would have been done. If the barque's helm had been ported, it would have been impossible for tho Australia to sweep clear, and he did not dare to risk it. He was hoping that the helm of the Essex would be ported, and he therefore chose the leant of the two evils, and put his helm to port.

Captain Sainty, when recalled to oxplain a plan, said, in answer to a question by Mr. Cooper, that if the Australia had reversed both engines when those on board saw the red light, there would, in his opinion, have been no collision.

John H. Johnson, chief officer of the steamer Australia, produced his certificate, that of a master, No. 306, issued in New South Wales. He deposed that when he first saw the Awhina's lights on the evening of the collision his steamer was nearing tho beacon. When the beacon was abeam the order to port was given, and witness went aft and set the log. He returned to the bridge, and they shortly afterwards saw a green light two points on the port bow, the head of the Australia being in a direction N.N.E. The helm was ported two minutes afterwards, and in another two minutes it was seen that a collision was imminent, and the order "Hard to port" was given, and witness went to the telegraph, and rang up " Stand by ;" the vessels being then, as he thought, about a quarter of a mile away. Presently the collision occurred. By Mr. Cooper : Witness did not think the collision was due to an error of judgment on the part of the captain of the Australia as to the distance between the ships. Were he where the other vessels were he would have acted differently.

Upon the application of Mr. J. B. Russell, the certificate of the chief officer of tho Australia, Mr. Johnson, was returned, in order that the steamer leaving Auckland on her usual trip should go under his charge.

Alexander Sutherland, second officer of the Australia, also gave ovidenco. Charles Taylor, chief engineer of the Australia, deposed that he was on duty on the 14th inst. About five minutes to soven o'clock the order to " Stand by" was given, and the next order was " Stop," and then the order was given to put the port engine full speed ahead, and the other full speed astern. The port engine was never stopped. It took about four minutes to get the engine full speed astern. By Mr. Campbell : Witness thought the Awhina was a vessel very easily handled, and by reversing her engines she would be brought to very soon. George Charleston, who was in charge of the wheel of the Australia on the evening in question, and Thomas Woodcott, A.B. on board the Australia, were also examined. This concluded the evidence, and the Court then adjourned until this morning, when the addresses of counsel will be heard. The R.M. Court will not meet until two p.m.