STRANDED SCHOONER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19810, 3 December 1927, Page 16

STRANDED SCHOONER.

CONCLUSION OF INQUIRY.

THE MASTER EXONERATED.

MISHAP WHILE SHELTERING.

[BY TELEGRArH.—PKESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER. Friday.

Tho marine inquiry into the stranding of the schooner Maroro at Blackhead on October 24 was concluded before Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., and Captains H. White Parsons and W. Allen.

Mr. W. Rose, who appeared for tho Customs Department, said the vessel was sheltering .at Blackhead on a voyage rrom Gisborne to Greymouth, when a sudden change of wind drove her ashore. Efforts to refloat the Maroro were sue cessful, but another sudden squall again drove her ashore.

Captain J. W. Jones, master of the Maroro, said tho vessel met increasingly bad weather from Cape • Turnagain on ward. He turned tho vessel, seeking shelter, at Cape Palhser, but went back again owing to the weather and hove-to until daylight, when he set out for Castlepoint to anchor. The attempt failed and he beaded for Napier. Ultimately the weather forced him to shelter under Blackhead, anchoring on October- 23. He took all precautions and retired at 8 p.m. He returned on deck at midnight when tho conditions wero fairly good. An hour later conditions got worse and witness said he decided to seek shelter round Kidnappers.- The ship began to drag both anchors in spite of the engine going full ahead. The vessel struck at 4 a.m. When tho tide receded the Maroro was high and dry. Witness sheltered be cause the engines were short of lubricating oil and the vessel, being without cargo or ballast, was unmanageable. Tho mate corroborated the captain's evidence, and members of the crew also gave evidence. In its finding the Court exonerated the captain from all blame as it was considered he acted rightly in sheltering, but not having knowledge of local conditions he placed too much faith in the New Zealand Pilot, which was slightly erroneous. The Court said the captain did all he could to save the ship and accordingly returned his and the mate's certificates.