SINKING OF A SCOW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15650, 2 July 1914, Page 9

SINKING OF A SCOW.

THE HARBOUR COLLISION.

OPENING OF THE INQUIRY.

"Thb Jinking of the scow Pahiki after a collision with the steamer Clansman in the harbour on .morning of June 24 was the subject of a nauticai inquiry which was commenced at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. C. 0. Kettle, S.M., presided, and the nantical assessors were Messrs. W. J. Reid and W. Robertson. Mr. Selwyn Mays appeared for the Collector of Customs, Mr. J. C. Martin and Mr. Clavton for the Northern Steamship Company and the master of the Clansman, and Mr. M. G. McGregor for the master of the Pahiki and the owners, Messrs. McCallum. Mr. R. McVeagh watched the proceedings on behalf of the Auckland Harbour Board.

The suggested causes of the accident, as set- forth in the statement of the Collector of' Customs, were as follows:— That before, or at the time of the accident, the

'Pahiki's starboard side light was not burning, or (2) that it was burning, and the Clansman (if she were not an overtaking

essell failed to see it, or (3) that the

Clansman was an overtaking vessel, and the Pahiki did not show from her stern a white light or flare-up light. The statement added that if there was sufficient daylirht to render the use of lights unnecessary the Clansman ought to have seen and avoided the Pahiki.

Captain Sargent, harbourmaster, de-

scribed the position of the scow when she was raised, and indicated the exact spot where she sank in the harbour.

William A. Beswfck.-one of tho Auckland Harbour Board's night officers, described the morning of the collision as very dull, overcast and cloudy, and said that from 5.45 a.m. until 6.15 a.m. it was certainly dark enough to justify a vessel in carrying side lights. He saw tho Clansman coming into the harbour at about 5.45 a.m., and he recollected the berthing of the steamer, but he did not see the Pahiki, nor did he hear the crash of a collision. The Clansman blew her whistle when coming in, but there was nothing unusual about that. He interpreted the whistles ao a signal to the Northern Company's watchman for a berth. Jde recorded the wind at midnight, and it was then strong south-we£l but cased off to moderate, with squalls, as the morning proceeded. At 6 a.m. the wind ( in nis opinion, was between south-west and south-south-west.

In the course of somewhat lengthy evidence, William Lumby, a signalman in the employ of the Harbour Board, who was on duty on June 24, said that at about &.45 a.m. the Clansman rounded North Head. When the vessel was just off Stanley Bay, witness signalled her, but got no reply. When he next saw her she was a little to the eastward of the King's Wharf, and was taking a sweep before turning in to her berth. He saw her port light, her masthead lights, and the lights from her portholes. She whistled several times as she came in. At about 5.30 a.m., witness continued, be saw a vessel off Campbell's Point showing a green light. He did not know what became of her, and could not' say what kind of a vessel she was Had she been a steamer she would have had a mast light, and he saw no such lieht. Witness was in his office when the collision occurred. At this stage the inquiry was adjourned until this morning.