WAIRUNA-MOONAH COLLISION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13723, 13 April 1908, Page 8

WAIRUNA-MOONAH COLLISION.

•FURTHER EVIDENCE,

• The inquiry concerning the collision between the s.s. Wairuna and the ketch Moonah in the harbour on March 10, and by which the latter vessel was sunk, was continued 011 Saturday morning, Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., presiding, and Captains Adamson and McKenzie being associated with him as assessors. Mr. S. Mays appeared for the Collector of Customs, M 8. Hanna for the captain and officers of the Wairuna, Mr. McGregor for the captain of the ketch, and Mr. 11. McVeagh for the Union Steam Ship Company {owners of tho Wairuna).

Captain do Silva, of the Moonah, continued his evidence. No instructions, he said, were given him on leaving gun guru as to where he was to take his cargo of coal on arriving in Auckland Harbour. He decided to anchor in Stanley Bay on account of the wind and tide, it being quite usual to come into Auckland Harbour without orders as to anchorage.

To Mr. Ha,una: His side light s Were 6ft or 7ft above the deck. He did not consider that they would have been obscured from the Wairuna's view by the sails, as the Moonah came up the harbour. It would have been better to have had them in the fore part of the rigging. From the time' he first saw the Wairuna's red light until the impact occurred eight o'r nine minutes elapsed. When he drew up to the wind the steamer was about three of her own lengths away. The Wairuna, instead of going to starboard, went to port —in direct opposition to her signal of one whistle. • To Mr. McGregor: He had never heard any complaint before about bis light being obscure. . He did not <ee the Wairuna's green light; he did not look for it. Assoon as he drew the Moonah up to the wind he lost the steamer's red light. The Wairuna's green light might then have been visible, but; lie did not see it. Had the two vessels kept their respective courses the Wairuna would have stiiick the Moonah on the port bow. When witness put his helm down he thought that the Wairuna would have passed just clear. The inquiry was adjourned until • ten o'clock this morning.