WELLING TON YACHTING ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12760, 10 January 1905, Page 5

WELLING TON YACHTING ACCIDENT.

Tin; I QU EST. SUGGKSTKD I'IILGACTIONS. IBY TEL EC It A I'll. OWN I It RES I'd J)KNT. ] Wellington, Monday. At the inquest to-day concerning the death of the young mail Hobday, drowned in the yachting disaster at the Heads last Monday, some evidence was given which indicates that the regulation of the local yacht club foi the inspection of yachts is not rigidly observed. Mr. 11. C. Reiiner. rear-commodore of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club, staled that the Tc-a-lloa belonged to the club's licet. (This, it appears, is the correct name of the yacht, not To Aroha.) She was hardly a, safe boat to carry three persons across Cook Strait, considering flic average weather that j prevailed in the strait. The lib had a j rule which stipulated that every yacht shall I carry (as the committee may determine) one or more lifebuoys, which shall be periodically examined by the committee, and passed if sound. The secretary attended to these matters, and called the committee's attention to lack of compliance with the rules. Witness was not aware of any action being taken by the club regarding the Te-a-Roa. Witness was of opinion that had there been a properly manned lifeboat at Seatoun, at least; one of the men on the Te-a-Roa on Monday last could have been saved. A fifeboat. stationed tit Island Bay would not have ! been of any use last Monday. A. signal . could he raised at the Heads to warn yachts not to enter when the sea was unsafe, but. witness did not think such a signal would have been of any use to the Te-a-Roa. Under the existing law there was nothing to prevent. any man going to sea in any craft, at, the risk of his life, so long as it was done for pleasure. The law would have to be amended to prevent the repetition of last Monday's accident. Captain Manning, of the Mararoa, who was also a. witness, did not think a lifeboat could have done anything in the sea round the reef. Captain Post, of the Tutanekai, explained that under the present law the Marine Department had 110 control over yachts unless they were reported as being unsafe or uuseaworthy. lie was of opinion thai a lifeboat at Island Ray would be out of place and useless, but at- Seatoun a- lifeboat would probably be of great use in the event of any casualties inside the harbour, or in the event of collisions, etc., about the Heads. A crew of volunteers would always have to be tit. the service of the boat, lie agreed with Mr. Hansen that a lifeboat could not be got out from Beuearrow when a heavy southerly gale was blowing. lie thought a rocket and mortar apparatus should be established tit Penearrow and at Island Bay or Seatoun. the latter for preference. A line could be carried a great distance when shot with a rocket from a mortar. This kind of apparatus had been found useful at. Westport; and Greymouth. There was more need for a mortar than for a lifeboat around New Zealand's coast, where there were no quicksands, and where deep water came close to the shore. The fringe of rocks along the New Zealand coast ran out only about aquarter of a mile. Witness thought it would be a pity to unduly restrict or hamper yachts with Departmental rules and regulations. At the same time it would be a wise provision if it was made a law that all yachts should notify the Marine Department of their intention of going outside a certain limit, sncli as Wellington yachts going across Cook Strait. Such yachts should be inspected by a responsible officer as to seaworthiness and equipment, as well as restricted as to crew. It might require legislation to bring such a law into force. Witness set Out as tin example that if he had been the owner of the Te-t.-Rou, and intended taking out the two or three men to Picton as passengers, he would have had to comply with regulations as to his qualifications as a mariner, and would have had his craft officially overhauled as to equipment. Charles Morse, who was a member of the crew of the Te-a-Roa, said there were 110 lifebuoys or lifebelts 011 board. He never knew of the yacht being inspected by an official of the yacht club. Tho jury returned the following verdici : —" That, deceased was drowned by a boating accident at Wellington Heads with two others, and that such death was by i misadventure, and without blame to anyj one.' The following rider was added: — j "That it lie a recommendation to the Port Nicholson Yacht Club to see that their regulation with regard to the efficient equipment of yachts under their control with buoys, with the addition of lifebelts ! thereto, is rigidly observed ; also that they might, extend their influence in this direction to as far as ]x>ssible all owners of yachts and sailing boats: that, the jury is of opinion that some, limit of tonnage of privately-owned yachts should be fixed, below which they should not be allowed to cruise outside restricted limits without a special permit from tin- .Marine Department