MEN ON WATCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22346, 18 February 1936, Page 12

MEN ON WATCH

OFFICERS' EVIDENCE SENDING DISTRESS SIGNALS FIXING VESSEL'S POSITION SHIP BACKS OFF THE ROCKS [BY TELEGRAM OWN CORRESPONDENT J WELLINGTON. Monday The evidence of several of the Rangatira's officers who had been on watch at the time of the mishap was taken at the magisterial inquiry this afternoon, the chief officer being closely questioned as to the measures taken to fix the ship's position when entering Cook Strait. . . The second engineer, Victor Tainui Standring, said he had been on watch in the engine-room from 4 a.m. During the voyage the engines were kept at 162 revolutions a minute, which gavo a speed of 17 knots. On 0110 occasion the counter-check showed 161 revolutions instead of lb2 revolutions, which ho expected. All orders for adjustments in tho revolutions came from the master, and 110 reduced to 162. Asked for an increase, ho made the average 162.8. In reply to Mr. Kirkcaldie, witness said that'the revolutions went up without any increase of power, and that that would indicate that tho ship was going with the tide rather than against it. . , The order "Full Astern" was received at 6.8J a.m., and was immediately acted upon, about 15 seconds being occupied in changing over before the engines developed full power. Tho vessel struck, continued witness, and there was a series of heavy bumps after that as the ship was getting off tho rocks. At 6.111 a.m. the order "Stop" was given, and then "Full Astern" was given again. The ship stopped bumping at about 6.20 a.m. At 6.32 tho order "Full Ahead" was given. At 8.45 a.m. they went astern, and at 9.28 tho vessel berthed at Clyde Quay. There was 710 thing to indicate from tho orders that the master was not in completo control of tho situation. Chief Officer Questioned Thomas Ewart Bevan, chief officer, gave evidence that ho came 011 watch at 4 a.m. when the vessel was nearing Cape Campbell. Witness checked the course 011 tho standard compass and found that it was the usual course. Shortly after 4 a.m. he started taking soundings at frequent intervals, and these confirmed the soundings 011 the regular course taken on previous occasions. He found no difficulty in reconciling the soundings with those 011 the regular course. Soundings were reliable when taken into consideration with other evidence of position, on which the judgment of Captain Cameron and himself was based as the result of long experience of the run. Counsel: Supposing the log went wrong and you had to rely on soundings alone, you would not feel confident?

Witness: Yen, from my knowledge and from the work 1 have done on that machine I would feel confident. Wo have constructed a track made from soundings and consider it a reliable guide. Counsel: At Cape Campbell you had fixed your position to your satisfaction? —Absolutely. "When you don't see Cape Campbell light, as you did not see it this time, does that' not put you more on your guard ?—Yes. What steps do y,ou take to reassure yourself that you are all right?—We carefully check the log for the distance run and we take into consideration the tidal predictions and generally act on our judgment gained on that particular run.

There was no other information? — Perhaps to laymen there would not be, but to a seaman there was. (Laughter.) The Magistiate: A very good answer. Direction-finder Not Used Counsel: It has not been the practice on your ship to take advantage of the wireless direction-finder ? —No. On this occasion both you and Captain Cameron were content to go from a point abeam of Cape Campbell for several hours without being ablo to take a bearing from some fixed point? —Not several hours. About two hours. And with indifferent visibility and no object to guide you?—At 6 a.m. our log placed us seven miles from Pencarrow. Counsel: You set a good deal of store on that log reckoning. Witness: Indirectly. The chief officer confirmed the evidence of Captain Cameron as to their assumption that the Rangatira had been two miles off Turakarae Head when in fact the ship was in the vicinity of Sinclair Head. Counsel: What is your explanation that the Rangatira was a good deal off her assumed course? Witness: The only reason I can ascribe is that instead of being to the east under the influence of the predicted tide and the easterly course the vessel was steering, there was a strong set to the north-west.

Tho chief officer explained a set as a body of water coming under the influence of a wind or some submarine disturbance, and being pushed in a certain direction.

In answer to Mr. Mosley, witness said exceptionally strong sets had been experienced to the south-east, but never from the opposite direction. Unknown Forces Counsel: So there was no external evidence that the tidal stream you expected had not come? —No. With the information at your dis posal you were not able to counteract these unknown forces?— That is the position.

Counsel: So that navigating science is unable to counteract these influences. Mariners should engage in an excess of caution when they are unable to get their bearings?— Yes. You are inferring that we should have resorted to some other means of making a fix. There was nothing to tell us we wero not making tho course up to six o'clock. We were quite justified in working as we did.

Questioning witness regarding the ship's position just before striking, counsel said: Although you might have been as close as two or three miles to Baring Head, it would be unusual to got as close as that to Taurakirae? —lt would be unusual.

So that an unusual situation arose on this occasion ?—Yes. I take it that it would have been more prudent and cautious to have reduced speed or to have stopped. What do you say to that suggestion ?—I will say this: At six o'clock we considered we were about seven miles off Pencarrow Head, and at that time wo were considering what action to take—at least, the master was, when I brought the Jog out to him at six o'clock.

You thought you were about seven miles from Pencarrow, but when you saw land at Taurakirae you were two or three miles from it. Don't you consider that alone was a circumstance to warrant you to reduce speed or to stop the ship?—No, because by porting the helm we thought we were going into clear water.

In reply to Mr. Kirkcaldio, witness said that by taking soundings and watching the run of the soundings mistakes wero not likely.

The Magistrate: In the end you did make a mistake. Witness: Made a mistakeP The Magistrate: Well, a mistake was made.

The Court adjourned until 10 a.m. to-morrow, when counsel's addresses will bo heard.