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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4127, 12 June 1874, Page 2

It is for tho Court of Inquiry—of whoso report wo have not yot hoard—to decide whether blame on account of culpable negligence attaches to anyone for tho wreck of tho Earl of Southosk, but there ai-c a few conclusions which cannot fail to suggest themselves to anyone, ho he nautical or otherwise. Unfortunately, these, though very true, are by no moans now. Only a few weeks ago wo had to regret tho loss of tho Cyrus and tho Wellington. Now it is tho case of tho Earl of Southosk, and, for anything that can bo soon to the contrary, tho next event on tho black list may bo tho wreck of a lino London vessel with some hundreds of immigrants on board. Wo are prepared to admit that tho circumstances of tho Port aro peculiar.

There are only two winds that can, or do, blow across the harbor. The entrance is not by any means a nice one. And the wind that is fair for a ship coming through the Strait is foul for her when she attempts to make the Wellington Heads and sail up the Bay. She'must either cast anchor, as did the Southesk, or beat about the Strait, as the Wellington and Cyrus, after going out, were compelled to do. It is the same thing going in or coming out ; yet, although the difficulty might be obviated in the simplest manner, nothing is done. Ever and anon a poor ship captain is deprived of the means of earning his daily bread by his certificate being suspended, and yet the requirements of a port like this, where some of the finest ships in the world find their way, are not attended to. The very fact of a magnificent vessel like the McOallum More being in harbor is sufficient evidence that all the appliances of a first-class port ought to be available. The pilot service is very defective, not in quality, but in quantity. Mr. Pilot Holmes does all that man can do, but the authorities do not seem to be cognisant of the fact that human endurance is limited, although they would doubtless have become so if the case of the Southesk had been that of a ship with two or three hundred lives on board, forfeited in consequence of their incapacity. They have not oven found out that a man cannot be in two places at. once. An illustration of the defective state of the service was supplied last week. When Mr. Pilot Holmes brought in the La Hogue ho had been up for five days and five nights, hard at work. Hardly had he brought in the Wennington when ho was -wanted for the La Hogue. In the former vessel ho had been beating about -, the Strait for two or three days and nights, in constant watchfulness, whilst half a gale of wind was blowing. In the exercise of his calling a pilot wants to be in the clear possession of every faculty ho has, during every moment. Very slight negligence on his part might cause a ship to bo wrecked, and every soul on board her to go to the bottom. There would not bo the slightest cause for surprise if, after the pilot’s faculties had been on the strain for two or three days, they had refused duty, and had not answered to the call, even if there had been the strongest disposition they should do so. Again,' whilst Mr. Holmes was on the Wennington he could not be elsewhere. If the La Hogue had arrived two days sooner, who, we should like to know, would have piloted her 1 She must have waited—which evidently means beating about the Strait, with a chance of being Wrecked—or her captain must have risked his ship and the loss of everyone on board. The folly of there being only one pilot in a port with such an extensive shipping trade as this 'seems almost incredible. How, we may ask further, was one pilot to have supplied the need of both the Inverallan and the Southesk, which were so nearly together ? Had he been -on board the Southesk the disaster might not have occurred ; but, again, the Inverallan might have come to grief. Whether a steam tug would pay is, we submit, not the question. There ought to be one stationed at Wellington. Had there been, the Wennington might have been brought in days sooner. The Southesk might have been towed into harbor hours before she struck on the rocks. The Cyrus and the Wellington would not have been taken outside till there was a fair wind for them up the Strait, and they would, in all human probability, have remained afloat to this day. Trusting to the little Luna, with her multifarious engagements, or to the chance of there being a small steamer, built for coasting trade, in port, is sheer infatuation. That this is the opinion of ship-owners is proved by the liberal offers they made when the Patent Slip was made available. But the question is not one of mere speculation. There is not an important port in Australasia, besides this, at -which in the early days of its shipping trade, the Government did not either solely or partially provide tug service. And so it would be at Wellington, there can bo little doubt, if proper stops were taken, and some one would move in the matter. It is the wish, wo are quite certain, of both the General and the Provincial Governments, that the , town should prosper and its commerce should bo extended, and it is against the interest of the whole Colony that wreck after wreak should take place just off Wellington Heads. Eor the prevention of this the pilot service ought to bo strengthened and a tug service organised ; but the necessity for an increase in the strength of the pilot service is alone so palpable that it is astonishing that it should be for a single day delayed.