THE LOSS OF THE S.S. MATAURA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10775, 9 June 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE LOSS OF THE S.S. MATAURA.

NAUTICAL INQUIRY. ALLEGED BREAKDOWN OF MACHINERY. [from our OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, May 7. A further chapter relating to the loss of the s.s. Mataura in the Magellan Strait, en January 12 last, was opened in the Guildhall, Westminster, the day before yesterday, when a Court of Inquiry, ordered by '.lis Board of Trade, commenced an investigation. The Court consisted of Mr. Marsham, Magistrate, and Captain Parfitt and Mr. Ronald- j son, assessors. Captain Milward was present, and all parties interested were represented by counsel. Mr. Israel Davis appeared for the Board of Trade; Mr. Laing and Mr. Bullock appeared for the owners of the ship (the New Zealand Shipping Company); and Mr. Nelson, solicitor, for the master, Captain Charles Amhnrsl Milward. The Board of Trade presented a scries of questions dealing with material events connected with the casualty. Captain Milward, late commander of the Mataura, was the first witness called upon to give evidence; lie was under rigid examination for three hours, in fact more, for after being in the box the whole of the , morning, lie was called after the luncheon adjournment, at the request of Captain Parfitt, who subjected him to a keen questioning to show that the bearing Captain Milward said he took, and the course lie thereon steered, would have placed the ship right on the Apostles Rocks in the Strait. The witness, however, was able to demonstrate that it would have taken him six to seven cable lengths away, or the best part of a mile. The main points of Captain Milward's testimony were that on December 26 there had been a breakdown of some portions of the machinery; that there had been temporary repairs, followed a few days later by a further stoppage of the engines ; that he did not care to go outside the Apostles for fear of running further risk; and that in taking the inside passage he had struck a submerged rock. He detailed the after experiences, but they have already been dealt with by me in a previous letter. I may mention, however, that the captain added that just before striking the weather was thick with rain. Mr. Terry, the second 'officer of the Mataura, who was the officer on watch at the time of the vessel striking, gave some additional particulars. Both the captain and the chief officer were on the bridge when the vessel struck. He (witness) went on duty at noon, and £.0 minutes later saw rocks on the port bow. These he reported to the captain, who ordered the helm to be put hard a-starboard; the rocks were then about six and a-half miles off. The weather was overcast. They kept the Judges rocks in sight on the starboard side, and there was a second alteration in the course. This was about ten minutes to two p.m.; at five minutes past two p.m. the ship struck twice. The rocks on which she struck could not be seen; there was one about six cables' length away that could be seen. Mr. Leech, the Mataura's third engineer, said that on December 26 the pumps hecame disabled in consequence of one of the links giving way. They proceeded without the pumps the rest of that evening and night, but on the following day they stopped and made an attempt to repair the damage. Then they started once again to steam, but on the next Sunday they stopped to make a proper job of it; this they did by making a new link. This would he on Sunday, January 2, or Monday, January 3, and they did not stop afterward till the vessel struck. However, a very sharp look-out was .kept in the enginoroom; in fact, an extra man was put on there on account of the breakdown. They did not repair the feed pumps. Asked as to whether the link that had broken had ever broken down before, witness replied that lie believed it had on tho ii"cvious voyage, when it had been repaired at Capetown. Witness could not say whether the engines had been surveyed when the ship returned to London. For the Board of Trade it was staled that if the Court wished questions relating to the tunnel door and the alleged breakdown of machinery embodied with those previously framed, it would he necessary to adjourn. Mr. Marsham: How long will it be before the chief engineer and chief officer are available ? We understood the captain to say that the engines were in such a state that he could not trust them, and that, therefore, In went inside the rocks. That seems to be tho line of defence; therefore, it appears very important that we should hear the chief

engineer. Objection was here raised to such a long delay as this would involve. The vessel in which the chief engineer and chief officer of the Mataura had again sailed for New Zealand had only left England about three weeks, and she was not timed to leave Ihe colony on her return voyage until Juno 9. What was to "become of the poor captain meanwhile 1" Mr. Marsham: Up lo that time Ido not see why lie should not pursue his calling, only that he must not go a long way off. This, it was strongly urged, would be impossible. Captain Milward had been with the company for 17£ years, and they only traded to New Zealand. Beside, he had already been kept a long while from employment as it was, Mr. Marsham: I should be sorry to keep him from his employment, but the state of the engines appears to me to be the crucial point. Practically, the captain says: "I did not dare to go outside. Although I knew it was risky I had to go inside." Finally, after discussion with the assessors, Mr. Marsham said: " I don't think we can arrive at a satisfactory conclusion without the chief engineer and the chief officer." The inquiry was then adjourned sine die, the Board of Trade authorities undertaking to continue Captain Milward's detention allowance in the interim. Tho whirligig of time does not seem to dim Jacobite patriotism. Despite the fact that 152 years have passed since the memorable battle of Cnlloden, many are still ready to show, when opportunity occurs, that the Stuart cause has their sympathies. Saturday, April 16, to the anniversary day of the battle of Culloden, and many Jacobites made a pilgrimage to the battlefield, which is situated about five miles from Inverness. The leading spirit in tho ceremony was Mr. Theodore Napier, an Edinburgh gentleman, who takes an exceptionally ardent interest in everything Scottish, and may bo remembered as having recently caused the huge petition to be sent to Her Majesty regarding the use of the word ''England" instead of "Britain." Dressed in the garb of a Highland chief of a bygone age, Mi'. Napier, even in the precincts of the Highland capital, attracted special attention.' ••_ A wreath, sent from the Legitimist Jacobite League of Great Britain and Ireland and the Order of St. Germain, bore the words, "What they fought for we will work for." Another wreath, in the form of a Highland targe, was sent by the Clan Menzies, in memory of 200 Menzies who fell fighting for Prince Charlie. The newly-formed Scottish Anniversary and Historical Society also sent a floral tribute; and other floral wreaths were placed by private individuals on the memorial cairn erected to the memory of the fallen Highlanders. Upon the battlefield, rough stones j here and there mark the graves of tho different clansmen who fell. . Mr. Napier, in a short address, recapitulated the deeds performed by, the Highland clans. The party then walked oyer the battlefield, and when beside the cairn erected to the, memory of the Clan Cameron drank to the "departed brave." • ■ '• ■' | ! It is announced by advertisement elsewhere that tho annual meeting of the Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Society 'will be hsld in the Y.H.O.A.- Rooms/ on Friday afternoon, at four o'olock, '.:'■'. ■'•■':■■" ■-■■ '•.■■;■'■?■ ■'"'" X'w \