AWARUA INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19452, 7 October 1926, Page 12

AWARUA INQUIRY.

THE CAPTAIN'S EVIDENCE

SIGNALS TO THE MAKURA

NO ASSISTANCE FORTHCOMING

[BY TELEG HAI'H. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

WELLING TON. Wednesday

An inquiry into the recent adventure of the steamer Awarua, which, after running short of coal near Wellington on a trip from Chatham Islands, drifted north until she was picked up by 11.M.5. Dunodin, was opened before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning.

Captain T. C. Sawyer, in evidence, said that when the Awarua left the Chatham Islands she had 28 tons of coal on board. Five tons were left when the vessel reached Cape Palliser at 9.45 a.m. on September 14. He considered this an ample amount to enable Wellington to be reached. Owing to increasing winds no headway was made for about two hours and at 8 p.m. there were only two tons of coal left.

Signals of distress wore sent out .to the Makura, but no assistance was forthcoming. Tho force of the.wind prevented witness from steering the vessel so he put the engines slow and started to go back to Capo Palliser to signal for assistance and to tell the lighthouse keeper to instruct anyone coming aftor the Awarua. The engines were stopped and sails set to conserve the coal. The sea was too heavy for the vessel and ho had to keep her east north-east to avoid shipping heavv water. This direction was maintained all night' and next day at noon the vessel was 42 miles from the cape.

The wind eased the next afternoon and from 4 o'clock on ho attempted to make the land with the engines going dead slow and with the help of the sails. At midnight on September 16 a south-west gale came up and the Awarua could do nothing but run before it until she was pickod up by H.M.S. Dunedin tho next day and towed into Napier.

Mr. T. W. Young, who appeared for the Seamen's Union, asked what time the Makura was sighted and witness said at 8 o'clock in the evening. Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldie, on behalf of tho Merchant Service Guild, objocted to Mr, Young's questions. Mr. Young: I do not propose to ask any question regarding tho conduct of the captain of tho Makura. "What signals did you make?" Mr. Young asked the witness. " I object, Your Worship," interrupted Mr. Kirkcaldie. The Magistrate (to witness): You need not answer that question. At the conclusion of the evidence the magistrate adjourned the inquiry sine die pending the return of tho Makura.