TAHITI INQUARY ENDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 12

TAHITI INQUARY ENDS.

ENGINE-ROOM EVIDENCE

BREAKING OF THE SHAFT.

DAMAGE DONE TO HULL.

FIGHTING RISING WATER.

CONDITION OF BULKHEADS. [BY TET.EORAPJt.' —OWN OnRUESPONOFNT.I "WRTJ.TNOTON, Fridny. Tho inquiry into tho sinking of the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Tahiti while on routo from Wellington to San Francisco was concluded to-day. and tho Nautical Court will issue its finding , noxt week. Tho chief witness to-day 1 was the chief enginoor, Mr C. J. McPhorson. Ho stated thorn could ho no doubt, that tho tail shaft had been tracturod and ft hole torn in tho side of tho hull. If tho bulkheads had stood np to tho strain tho ship could have been {invert Tho breaking of tho shaft and tho racing of tho cngino wero tho causes of tho damage to tho engine-room bulkJionch I ■ Tho Court consisted of Mr. E. Page. 8.M., Captain L. C. H Worrnll, nautical assessor, Mr W. Parker, engineer assessor, and Mr. G. Huntley, naval architect. Mr. J Prondeville appeared for the Marino Dopartmont, Mi. C. G. White for the Union Steam Ship Company. Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldio. with him Mr. E. Parry, for tho master and deck olllcors of tho Tahiti, and Mr. E. P. Hny for tho engineers of tho Tahiti. Position of Propeller Shaft. Continuing his evidence, Archibald Thomson, second engineer, said ho had had no previous experience of a brokon propollor shaft. There was an escape hatch leading from the nfter tunnel through tho No. 4 hold to tho main deck. In No. 3 hold there had been at some time or other a ventilator, but ho did not know whero it had led to.

Mr. Prendovilto: You say that when you wont down the tunnel you naturally cast your,eyes along tho propeller shaft, and so far as you could sop it was still in its bearings ? Witness: Yes. In reply to Mr. Kirkcaldio, witness Bftid that immediately after tho accident tho captain canio down and inspected the damage, and thereafter provided every facility for repairing it. Mr.'Hay; Whet, vou rushed alontj tho tunnel after shutting off the starboard engine, where did you first meet the w&tcr T Witness: Just inside the after bulkhead. There wore probably two or three inches of water then on the flooring 1 plates. * " fcMr. Hay: Did you contemplate the pos * sibility of closing the door in that bulkLead ?

Witness: Well, I did not. Mr. Hay: And for what reason T Witness": Well, I personally thought it was humanly impossibles io close it »\vith the amount of water {lowing in. Poor Properly Closed. Mr. Hay: The door was of a swinging " tvpe, unlike the others, which wero operated by power? It would have meant t exerting your own strength against tho " force of the water? Witness: Yes. Mr. Ilay: And the flow of water is indicated by tho fact that when you rushed - back to tho main bulkhead tho water had overtaken you ? ■ Witness: Yes. Mr. Hay: Pealing with the shaft Wself, was it possible for it to have jupiped in ; its bearings and still have appeared normal ? ♦ Witness: It mild quite easily have jumped, in its bearings and appeared all right c/n a hurried inspection. The important part of the bearings was tho concave pa-t. The cap was fastened with small' liolts and was not designed to hold the shaft down Any lifting tendency of the shaft might loosen those bolts and the shaft would fall again. Ho was satisfied that tho main bulkhead door was properly closed after it w:>« shut with tlia gear. He gave it a few knocks with a hammer to see that it was properly closed. Tho door was usually kept open because inspections had to be carried out regularly in the tunnel. The door was tested every week and on the Sunday prior to the ship arriving in Wellington it was closed and opened, and there was no sign of any aperture. To Mr. Kirkcaldie, witness said the bearings .of the shaft were inspected every half-hour, and witness was to have inspected them after his tea. The only portion not available to inspection was I the porfion in the stern tube. When he came on watch the fifth engineer reported ♦hat everything was all right. Water Kept Down for 14 Hours.

To Captain WorraJl, witness said the fact that the water came across the tunnel indicated that the ship was punctured. ; If it was coming in the stentube' the water would have a tendency to shoot forward. The door into No. 2 hold was closed early and the stokehold door was closed and when the water was gained upon it was half opened to allow the men to get through. Captain WormII; What do you think made tlie shin sink so quickly ? Witness: The inflow of water. To Mr Parker witness said an examination was carried out on Juno 6. when (He vessel was repacked. Mr Parker: Has she ever run hot? Witness. Not to my knowledge. Mr. Parker* The voyage before you had a pood deal of racing. Did that disturb tha stern gland ' Witness: No. Mr. Parker; At the time you got the doer closed about how much water was in the engine room ? Witness: Well, I reckon it was up above the plates in the alter end of the engine room. >sr. Parker: How long was it before the water gained on you again ' Witnes< said it was about midnight on August 15. when the fourth engineer told him while ho was up above that the bulkhead was getting bad and he was Hooded below. "You had been keening the wr.tcv down for about 14 hours V Witness: Yes, Probably Two Rents In Hull. Mr Huntley: I'mil vou went through the nfteidoor there was no sign of water lines) that not prove tha' whatever damage was caused was aft of the cenirbulkhead * Witness 1 Yes The tunnel between the centre bulkhead and the stern gland was about 50 fuel long.

Mr Huntley; Then supposing th. eliiift went ii must lmw luum lustvtv* Uiosn l w<? points ? . Witness: Y'ua

Mr Huntley- Acn«inliri|* to what yr say about llm water coming in fvom )H»o aliip's fiido thr.ro niiiat luive been » rent., in (lib sifk ? Witness: Y us. Mr.' Huntley: Hut if that h:ul or.lv fcoen hi 11)0 Uiutiul, how tlwl Use W iter get i)jtp die holds ? Witness: Tlimb tmia* have bwn arsrent. Mr. Huntley: W«h-i that dwr ia the eentra tight T /

Witness: It was a watertight bulkhead so it is only fair to conclude llmt it was a watertight door Mr. Huntley: It swung inwards and would have had to bo shut against the pressure of tho incoming water. Had it been a sliding door and shut from above do you think it would havo stopped some water? Witness: Yes, it would have helped us greatly. Mr. Huntley: Tho water that came into tho engine room must havo como under tho liulkhend ? Witness: It must havo.

Mr. Huntley: That was a watertight bulkhead, but obviously it did not act as such? Witness: No.

Mr. Huntloy: Do you think that ft fracluro occurring in the shaft so close to the stern could affect tho engine room bulkhead to that extent ?

Witness: Apparently it must have done. I line) that bulkhead chipped and painted six or seven months ago and it was in good condition then. Mr Huntley: It seems to ho difficult to understand how a fracture occurring so far aft could affect the engine room bulkhead to that extent ? Witness: I cannot explain it. To Mr. Kirkcaldio witness said the bulkhead was rigid with a holo through which the shaft passed. Vibration of Vessel Alt. Mr. Kirkcaldio: Your theory is that when the shaft broke there was a whipping. You know from reports that the whipping was enough to " dnnco tho boilers on their cradlo?" Witness: That was what I was told. Mr. Kirkcaldio: Although that might not damage something light like a cap on a bearing it might Lie sufficient to crack ft rigid bulkhead across a ship? Witness: Yes, it might. Mr. Page: Is' breaking 'ft tailshaft a gradual process ? Witnoss: In tho experience of most it is ahvavs sudden. There is no warning. Mr. Pago: Would it commetico by some failure of'tho metal over a period? Witness: It would be in tho first case in the manufacture of the metal —a. flaw in tho manufacture. Mr Pago: Is it your considered opinion that tho bulkhead was injured by the mishap ? Witness: Yes. I think so. I personally saw that bulkhead and it was in good order and condition, tho samo as the 6thers were. Mr. Page: Was tho Tahiti a ship that "worked" very much in heavy weather? Witness: Sho vibrated a lot, especially aft. Mr. Page: Did tho storm on tho previous trip havo any effect on the tailshaft ? Witness: No, it had no effect. Flaw in Manufacture Suggested.

Mr. Pago: You think that the fracture was duo to a flaw in the manufacture? Witness: I cannot assign any other reason for it. . In reply to Mr. Pago witness said ho hoard from six to eight noises like explosions beforo ho could shut off the e, \\"°tho inquiry this afternoon. David Gibb fiftli engineor of the Tahiti, said that'after the alarm the engines were shut off dead From the time the entfinos raced to the time the bulkhead door was shut a minut" or a little longer elapsed. Witness saw water coming from the bottom and round tho sides of the door. The door was closed perfectly. Mr. Parker: Did the engine stop as if it had gOne bang up against something? It was 8 sudtlen, definite stop ? Witness: Yes, it stopped dead. Mr. Huntloy: This vibration was quito different to "that caused by engines racing? Witness: Yes. it was quite a different thing. George Rortlnviok, carpenter, said the noise that, woke him was terrific, and ho was shaken violently in his bed. Thomas Rooke, greaser, said ho was oiling the starboard engine. He first noticed a reduction in the revolutions oj the engiue and then it raced madly. _He heard a distinct rumbling noise. When the engine stopped it did so as if a brake had been put on. To Mr. Parker, witness said after the engine slowed down it went on running again normally for a few revolutions, then siowed down again.

THE SURVEY RECORDS.

INSPECTION OF BULKHEADS.

TAHITI A VERY STRONG SHIP.

[RY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COBBESTON DENT-] \VELL INOTOX, Friday.

Giving evidence ir. the Tahiti inquiry today Robert Gillies, assistant-superin-tending engineer to the Union Steam Ship Company, said he had a close knowlodso of the various vessels belonging to the company. He produced the survev records ot" the Tahiti mid said the last survey in New Zealand was made in 1928 by the Government and Lloyds. The survey by Lloyds was a special survey. The ship was surveyed then up to everything but the docking. On that survey tho vessel was classed as Al. The bulkheads would have been inspected then. Witness could not tell whether the bulkheads had been repaired or renewed since tho ship was built. There was more than ono plata in tho engine-room bulk head.

Witness said tho next survey was made in Sydney in July, IS2B. That was a running survey over three trips. That survey had been conducted by the Govern inent with Lloyds coming in for the boilers and tail shaft. At that time the tail shaft was drawn and changed and a spar* shaft fitted. Tho starboard shaft when it was drawn was found to liavo a fault in the brass lining. Consequently the spare shaft was fitted in its place. The tunnel shaft had been ill since the ship was built. The sparo stern shaft was fitted in July, 1929. and was then surveyed by both tho Commonwealth and Lloyds. The crack in the stem bush was seen on June 10, 1929. The certificate of survey ran until October,. 1950, when the boat was duo for a complete survey by the Government.

Witness saiil ho liiul never had any experience with a stern shaft coming out at sea. lie thought it possible from his knowledge of the Tahiti that whipping might have taken place. To Mr. White witness saiil the shaft was in tho ship when the company bought the ship in 1911. Any weak pontes found on the survey would have been replaced although witness was not aware that that lud been done Mr, White ■ It is not unusual for the tunnel shaft to be in a ship front the time it is built to the time, it is finished. Witness That is so.

Mr \\ liito iwiteil two rasps of ships thai had suiTiuvl liuimgo with the pro pe'.lor shaft O:io was an Italian ship which- wet with injm-v oti October 26, 19.??. Iho water iv:klsihl the engineroom and the ship v.nk two hours aitcrward. Another vessel met with a similar accident its 1929 ami sank.

I aptiin John Foster, marine sujierm tondout !or ths I titun Steam Shin Com patsy. Soici the vessel had boon insured He prtxhu-ed certificates dealing with exaßiir.atkw n>.ade on the Tahiti prior to th* accident. In spite o! the Tahiti's 26 years, the plates were still good. She wjw a vtry strong ship.

A spring ftoiver shov will fee heM ai Su. Mark's Hi!!, Remaera, aa Wednesday. September 17.