MANUREWA – VESPER COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13454, 3 June 1907, Page 6

MANUREWA - VESPER COLLISION.

THE INQUIRY.

The nautical inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collision between the barque Manurewa and the scow Ves- 1 per, of! Tiri, on May 23, was continued at the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morn- ; ing. Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., presided, and associated with him were Captains ■ Adam&on and McKenzie. Mr. McVeagh appeared for Captain Nillson, Mr. McGregor for the captain vof the Vesper, and Mr. Shera for the Collector of Customs. ■ ' Captain Nillson, of the Manurewa, who gave evidence on Friday, was closely cross-, examined by -Mr. McGregor on technical points. - j Questioned by Mr. McVeagh, Captain' Nillson, of the Manurewa, said that sidelights might- get dark and smoky if the! lights were not properly trimmed. Their brightness might also be affected by the quality of the oil. _ To Mr. Kettle: Witness was a little| doubtful about which course to take when; he saw the Vesper, and considered the matter before taking the course he did.! He was still of the opinion that he did 1 the right thing. Arthur Wheatland, second mat? of the Manurewa, said that they were on the port tack by Tiri when they saw the red light of another vessel. There were four! men on deck. The lookout was taken 1 from his post to do some other work five minutes before the red light was sighted. The approaching vessel was on the starboard ' side. Witness never saw a green 1 light. The captain gave the order, ship about. The next thing lie knew was that the ship was on top of them. To Mr. McGregor: It was about three minutes after the captain gave the order " ready about" that the ship was upon them. The Vesper struck the Manurewa boom, and her port side fouled the Manurewa's bows. The Vesper was going off to starboard all the time, and travelling about six knots, while the Manurewa was hardly moving. About three minutes elapsed between the time the captain gave the order " ship about" and the collision. Daniel Patrick Wall, first mate of the Manuwera, said that just as the Vesper's foremast got to the Manurewa's bowsprit • a man on the Vesper trave a yell. There was a smash and the Vesper swung round. He heard the captain inquire about the safety of the men on the Vesper. -... To Mr. McGregor: He heard the captain, prior to the accident, ask if the Manurewa's lights were burning brightly, ine Vesper was travelling fully six knots. S. J. Phillips, seaman on board the Manurewa, said that he went on duty at midnight, and until one o'clock he was on the lookout. When; they sighted the light of the Vesper he was up aloft. He did not know much about it, but he believed they had all sails set. '.■ >■

Another man, engaged on the Manu : rewa, said that just prior to the collision he was at the wheel. The boat was on the port tack, keeping close to the wind and a steady course. When he first saw the red light of the Vesper they were about half-a-milc apart. He was ordered to put the helm hard down. '

H. Johansen, A.B.' on board the Manurewa, said he went on the lookout at one o'clock. After he had been on duty for about a-quarter of an hour; he was called away by the captain to do some mending. When he left he saw no lights. Ten minutes later the collision occurred.

Captain Biddick, master of the scow Vesper, said the boat also carried an engine. He was bound from Whangarei to Auckland with cattle. He went to hunk at half-past eight o'clock. At ten minutes to one ho had • a look round; returning j later to bed. At the time of the collision witness was : just / ctiming' out of his cabin. There was only one man on duty, and he was at .the wheel. .'"

Mr.'Shera: Don't you know you are required to ,keep a lookout? Witness: I don't know how it can be done, in a three-handed boat. ■ *

Further questioned witness said he knew practically • nothing about the actual, collision. On this occasion he got no call until about two seconds before the collision. - Mr. McVeagh; proceeded to examine the witness to discover whether the vision of the man at the wheel was obscured, when Mr. Kettle remarked that it would be better to either have a photograph of the boat or for the Court to make an 'inspection. '.«"■■':.- .? . ' ■■'.'■' ' , '-■ . ' The inquiry was then adjourned until a-quarter past two o'clorfc to-day.