THE S.S. WANAKA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 998, 17 April 1891, Page 27

THE S.S. WANAKA.

POSITION OF THE VESSEL. (PER PH ESS ASSOCIATION.) New Plymouth, April 9. Rough weather still prevails, but there Is no apparent change in the Wanaka’s position since yesterday. Her bows are direct on to the sea, but she is upright. The surf is too heavy to allow any work to be dona at the vessel. The gale seems now to be subsiding, but a heavy sea is rolling into the shore. The Wanaka at low water can be boarded from the shore. Men are walking to her in only knee.deep of water. The rise and fall of the tide is I2ft. The vessel is lying on a shingle bed off the main reef, in a bight on tbe ooast. New Plymouth, April 10. The Wanaka lie 3 on tbe north side of the reef, and therefore in a sheltered position during the present westerly weather, but if a northerly gale springs up there is no doubt the vessel would go to pieoes. Those who have inspected the vessel closely say her bottom is flattening out. She has a big hole in her stern, about three feet of her iron being carried away. Maoris who have been on board state that there is a quantity of sand in the fore part of the vessel. Nothing will be done to attempt to float the vessel till the weather moderates. ’ ' The nautical enquiry into the wreck will commence tomorrow before the Resident Magistrate and Nautical Assessors. NAUTICAL ENQUIRE. New Plymouth, April 1L The nautical enquiry into the cause of the Btranding of the s.s. Wanaka on the Puketapu Reef commenced this morning before Mr Kettle, R. M. t and Captain Adams, of Wellington, Nautical Assessors. Mr Samuels appeared for Captain Meades. The evidence given by Captain Meades waß similar to that which has already been telegraphed. He said the course he gave the steersman would have brought the steamer straight to the breakwater. He went on deck at 2 o’clock, and the chief officer reported that the log showed the vessel had run 93 miles from Manukau Heads. There was smoke about, and the land was invisible at that time. At 3 o’olock the log showed 100 miles had been run. At this time there was still haze or bush smoke about. The distance between Manukau and the breakwater was 120 miles. About 3.15 a.m. he saw what appeared to be a large bush fire south of Waitara about three points on the port bow. Then he altered the course to south a point west, which would take her out to sea. The steamer was dirty, and running about nine knots per hour. Ten knots is her average speed. Between 3.15 and 4 o’clock he saw neither land nor lights. At the latter hour he was looking with a glass to pick up the New Plymouth lights or the Sugar Leaves. About five minutes to 4 he saw white water on the port side. There was no break in the sea. He ordered the helm hard a.port, which was obeyed. She went two points to the westward, and then struck. The vessel suddenly seemed to slide on a bed of boulders. He put the engines full speed astern. This had no effect. Soundings were taken from fore and aft, and about two and a half fathoms were registered, the water being deeper aft than forward. The tide was on tbe ebb. All efforts to get her off proved futile. Allowing for alteration in course at 3.15, the vessel ought to have been five miles westward from, where Bhe was. He could only account for the vessel’s position by the attraction of the iron-sand-bound coast or some unforeseen current running in the direction of Wai tara- The attraction of the iron sand was not always the same, and made it a matter of doubt where and when one would pick up the land. Coming from the Manukau, the compass might, or might not be affected by the sand in twenty fathoms of water. The matter had been brought under the notice of the Marine Department. In other parts of the world in a certain state of the atmosphere, the compasses had been affected by an iron bound coast. He always ran bia ooiirse 117 miles, and if he did not pick up his mark, he stopped the engines, and headed the steamer northwards. On this occasion, he had five or six miles to run, after looking at the log. The vessel should have only run 112 miles, according to the log. when she struck. The enquiry was adjourned at 2 o’clock. The cross-examination oli Captain Meades was continued after the luncheon adjournment. He stated that three other steamere, JRangitira, Airedale and Bellinger had gone ashore in the vicinity of tbe reef. He said the accident was due to one of three things : (1) The compass being affected by the iron, sand ; (2) one of the men steering wrong ; (3) an unknown current. He had never previously had any accident happen to him during his professional career. At the conclusion of Captain Meades’ evidence, which lasted till 5 p.m., the Court adjourned till Monday morning. New Plymouth, April 13. _ The Wanaka enquiry was resumed this morning. Captain Meades said if he had thrown the lead after he had seen the fire he would not have found any difference in the depth until he got near the reefs. He did not, under the circumstances, consider he should have done so. He believed he was on his right course. The picking up of the New Plymouth light depended on the state of the atmosphere. They had a red light at New Plymouth, but a white one would be an improvement for picking up at a distance. The white light from the gas lamp at the Hospital was seen farther off than the harbour lights. The harbour lights were oil. If between 3.15 o’olock and the time he struck he had thrown the lead, and found 15 to 25 fathoms, he would still have continued the same course until two miles of where he expected to see the land. From his own knowledge he did not know of any current setting in towards the coast. George Pearce, able seaman, who was at the wheel, Btated he kept the vessel to her course. The first officer was very particular about the steering. At 2 o’clock Dale, an able seaman, relieved him, and he went on the forecastle head to keqp a look*out. He

gave the course as south half e r .st to Dale. The captain came on deck at 2.15 a.m. There was smoke all round, and he could not see a hundred yards ahead. After 3 o’clock ho reported to the chief officer a light, which turned out to bo a fire. It was on the port bow, and looked about ten miles off. He next heard tbe captain order “hard a-port.” Two or three minutes afterwards the vessel struck. Had been 16 years on the coast, and iu fine weather the course was south half east. When the vessel struck, he could not see land, and when on the look-out he could not see a sign of any rocks or shore water. He oould see no light when he went in the boat with the passengers towards the breakwater, and they were pulling 20 minutes in that direction before he picked up the harbour lights. They ought to be visible where the steamer was stranded. Discovered the light about a quarter to 5 o’olock. No one on board the steamer was otherwise than sober that night or morning. George Dale, an able seaman, corroborated last witness’ evidence. Waß steering S.JE. when the captain altered it to south by west, which course he kept till told to “hard aport,” which order he obeyed. The steamer was answering her helm when she struck, and then ceased to move. The offieers never found fault with his steering that night. The weather was hazy, and he did not see land until five minutes after the vessel had struck. He had been six months on the Wanaka, four months of which he had been steering. He was overlooked by the officers on the bridge. .John William Robertson, third engineer, said he was in charge from midnight, and at 3.15 a.m., when the vessel struck,”he was just going to call the chief engineer. They were giving the engines all they could to catoh the tido. He obeyed the order to stop, aud also the order full speed astern. Kept her at full speed astern for half an hour, and oould hear the vessel grating. The engines were ultimately stopped till next tide, when they were tried again. The steamer had been travelling at nine knots an hour, but not over. W. H. Skinner, surveyor, produced a tracing of the position of the stranded vessel. She was 470 yards from high water mark. _ The enquiry was then adjourned till this afternoon. The evidence of the chief mate will be taken at the hospital, where he is at present; owing to his late accident. The Wanaka is still lying in the same position, and on closer inspection does not seem to be damaged to any considerable extent, but she is so far in shore that it will be expensive work to float her off. Hundreds yesterday went to see the wreck of the vessel. The evidence of the first mate was taken at the Hospital this afternoon. He corroborated Captain Meades’statement that he had been travelling thi3 coast some years, and had only known the Wanaka on one other occasion to be unaccountably off her course. That was three and a half years ago, when Captain Grant was in charge. On that occasion she went 10 miles out of her course. No cause could be assigned for it, as the course was kept correctly and the water was perfectly calm. The enquiry was adjourned till to-morrow morniDg. The Court ordered that soundings be made at the spot where the Wanaka struck and five miles out. New Plymouth, April 14.

Findlay McArthur, captain of the s.s. Gairloch, Btated ha had been on the. coast for a number of years, and had found in fine weather the steamers in his command had been drawn towards the land by some unknown influence. On one occasion he had been drawn into the Urenui bight. He could not account for vessels steering in that way in fine weather. The Airedale was lost at North Waitara, and the Rangatira went ashore nenr where the Wanaka is now. The Hawea went ashore at Waitara when making for New Plymouth, but was got off again. He would certainly run 116 miles of the 120 from Manukau before heaving the ead.

Captain Grant, of the Takapuna, gave evidence to the effect he had found that there was an attraction to draw vessels in the direction of Waitara. Considered it safe to run 115 miles on the course in thick weather without sounding, provided the steering was right. Once found hia vessel down off Waitara in fine weather. Attributed this to going before a south or southwest wind. The enquiry was here adjourned till 2.30 p.m. New Plymouth, April 15.

After lunch yesterday Captain Meades war recalled to give evidence relative to the compasses. He said he gave his orders to the man at the wheel by standard compass, but he regulated it by the bridge compass. The second officer, who was at Palmerston North, had been telegraphed for by the police, but the railway authorities refused to recognise the order, and witness was not present. The Court decided not to call that officer. Counsel then addressed the Court, Mr Samuel, who appeared for Captain Meades, going over all the evidence, showing that the captain and officers were all sober and at their posts, and that the accident was from either an error in the compasses or an unknown current, which must have taken the vessel out of her course. Both Captain Meades and the chief officers were on the bridge at the time of the Wanaka going ashore, and for more than an hour previously the log was out, and the distance recorded misled him. He referred to Captain Kennedy, who lost the Airedale in 1871, off Waitara, who had his certificate returned and was complimented for his conduct on the trying occasion. The judgment will be delivered at 2 p.m. to-morrow.