WRECK OF THE OPUA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19453, 8 October 1926, Page 12

WRECK OF THE OPUA.

HOW VESSEL WENT ASHORE.

EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY.

1 STATEMENTS BY OFFICERS

■ - . ... DECISION TO §E GIVEN TO-DAY

[BY, TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ' WELLINGTON, Thursday.

Tho marine inquiry into tho wreck of the Opua at Tora, near Palliser Bay, during the early hours of Saturday was held to-day. Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., presided. The assessors were Captains Edwin and. Rogers. The Marine Department was represented by Mr. ,T. Prendcville; the Anchor Shipping Company by Mr. R. Kennedy: the master of the Opua/Captain E. H. Fowler, by Messrs. E. S. Parry "and PJ. Kirkcaldie; and the second officer, Mr. H. M. Scarborough, by Mr.' A. W. Blairi < Captain Fowler said that at 10.50 p.m. on Friday he"gave the Chief officer verbal orders that' if at any time during the night tho ship came within two miles of tho land ho was to be called, or if there were any signs of fog or changed weather conditions that might affect the course. The latter was a- standing order in his ship. He furtnor ordered the course to be followed until 24 miles had been run and-fHafc he was to be informed when Cape P%lliser light came into view. Witness then went to bed and heard nothing more until he was awakened by the ship striking tho bottom at 3.10 a.m. As witness was goirj# on the bridge the telegraph rang. He found the engines full-speed astern and the helm hard After a hurried glance lie saw that the ship was close up to a steep hill with a point of land a mile ahead and another a mile and a-half astern. He stopped the engiues as the propellers were touching.- He could see tho ship, was going further on tho rocks with a:light easterly swell driving her in. • :l h The Crew Sent Ashore. The vessel was heading approximately south-west. Witness had the ship soutided- and put tho rest of tho crew getting; tho lifeboats ready. Tho ship was reported as making no water and was on a rough, uneven bottom, with. 6ft. to. Bft, of water all round her, until 10.30 a.m. There was a possibility of floating the ship off and as the sea was making slightly and there was a possibility.. of danger witness sent the ■ crew, numbering 14, ashore with the boat, a rope having been passed ashore. The ship began to shift with the making sea and .the tide and commenced grinding on the rOcks. • She made water badly in tho forward hold. When the tugs arrived witness signalled "Vessel badly damaged, 6ft. of water in forward hold.- Must abandon vessel. I am going ashore." Alfred James Hendry, first officer, sjiid ho went on- duty at 8 p.m., when the vessel was off Castlepoint. HeSvas relieved- at midnight by the second officer. Witness was .in bed when the ship struck. The course he gqve the second officer, was south-west and witness passed on the night orders not to come within two ;xhiles of - the "shore. During witness' watcli he was not within eight miles -of the shor.e. H. M. Scarborough, second officer, said that tho orders were passed on to him, including the course and the order not to go within two miles of land and to call the master if the weather became thick, t It was over-clouded when witness went'on watch and there was a light drizzle. He could not sec the land. The weather seemed to become hazier and misty at times, with low-lying clouds on the starboard bow as his watch proceeded, although it was fair weather on the port bow and out to sea. The first witness saw was breakers and then the land loomed up. Witness put the helm over arid put tfio engines astern. Addresses by Counsel. At the 'close of the evidence, Mr. Kirkcaldie , said there seemed no evidence against either the captain or chief officer. Mr. Riddell: Every officer is on the same footing. The charge is general. "The only question is whether the captain did his 1 duty as a master of the vessel,.", said Mr* Kirkcaldie. In addressing the Court counsel submitted that tho master was entitled to believe that ho had left orders sufficient to make his s ship safe. ' There was no evidence, said Mr. Kirkcaldie, against the chief officer, who was sure of his position and carried out his orders for the night. Mf. Blair, addressing the Court, said there was no suggestion that tho course se.fc was not the course steered. By reason of certain circumstances a course which ' on paper appeared safe landed the vessel on .the rocks, Mr. Blair contended that there must have been something wrong with tho course or there might have been a "set," causing tho ship to veer inshore. No case of neglect had been proved. ill*. Kennedy said there had been no adverse to the owners. Tho inquiry concerned only the captain and his officers.

The magistrate intimated that decision delivered to-morrow morning.