LOSS OF S.S. HIMITANG.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10064, 31 August 1918, Page 9

LOSS OF S.S. HIMITANG.

INQUIRY HELD AT WELLINGTON THE CAPTAIN EXONERATED. CERTIFICATE RETURNED; NO COSTS. A magisterial inquiry was hold at tho courthouse yesterday to inquiro into tho cause of tho loss of the Chatham Islands Fishing Company's s.s. Himitnngi, at tho Chatham Islands, on July 29th. Mr W. U. Riddell, S.M., presided, and tho nautical assessors woro Captain Georgo Lambert and Captain Hooper, B.N.A. (of the N.Z.T.S. Amokura). Mr J. Prondeville (of tho Crown Law Office) appeared on behalf of the Marino Department, Mr H. Buddie tor tho master of the vessel (Captain Charlos Thompson), and Mr 1. Neavo for tho owners. Captain F. A. Mclndoe watched'the case on behalf of the Merchant Service Guild. Captain Charles Thompson (master of the Hiraitangi) stated that she was a steamer of 119 tons, a steel-built vessel. Ho produced his certificate to tho court. The Himitangi left Wellington on July 24th, arriving at Waitangi at 7.30 a.m. on tho 28th. At 10 o'clock that night they left for Kaingaroa, in light sou-wester weather, moonlight, and fairly clear, with light showers of rain. About 12.15 he judged they were three miles • oil' Somes Point. He then steered N. by W. $ W., and ran on that course about half an hour, whiyh would mean some four miles. Turning N.N.Ei., they ran that course, till 1.30, a run of six miles. This should liavo placed him two and a half to three miles off Capo Patterson, away from the rocks; but at 1.30 they struck, and found broken water all round. After midnight the wind shifted into the west, with frequent squalls, but not very heavy. Now and again ho could see | the land, but could not get bearings. j He was in charge himself from leaving ! Waitangi. No other office/: was on duty. The steamer struck, and then went further in, and stuck fast. Ho ordorcd the engineer to go full speed i-tsteru till about 4 o'clock, wlion they liad 6ft of water in the hold, and the lights went out; Out they could not Jiove her. When ehe struck they got out tho boats, ajid tound they had 10ft of water on one side and 7ft on tho other. They stood by tho ship till daylight, about 7.30, so that they could 6ee to effect a safe landing. The crew saved most of their effects. They had 12,000 or 13,000 feet of timber aboard at tho time, and about ten tons of general cargo. He steered two or three miles outside' his usual course to allow for the westerly wind and tho tide. He always steered an outside course at night. Un* *t Ho , lost si S«t of the land shortly after midnight. He was on the bridge all the timo. After that he saw the land between the showers, but not distinctly enough to got any bearings. He had no indication after 12.15 p.m. that he was not doing the Usual eight miles an hour. The engineer gave the numbor of revolutions at 118, which would indicate eight knots. He observed on the standard compass that the course given was adhered to; and with each course 'ho gave the instruction. "Nothing in-l side." The compass was corrected at Lyttclton about a month before.

A NORTHERLY INSET. He had been running to the Chatham Islands for 18 years, doing the mail service every two months. He had always approximately followed that course and found it a safe one. Tho only reason ho could give for the vessel off her course that night was that there must have been a northerly in-set. He had been at sea 40 years, and a master for 20 years. To' tho chairman: He could sec about a mile ahead, but could not see the breakers. To Mr Buddie: At tho time sbo struck, tho weather was squally. On tho weather clearing he found they had struck about a mile from land. To Captain Lambert: The vessel did not usually make much leeway with a beam wind. To Mr Buddie: The wind was not heavy enough to make him take extra precautions. To Captain Hooper: It was half-ebb tide when 'hey left Waitangi, and about the slack water when they wero off Somes Point.

To Mr Riddell: They had no ammo-nia-gas cylinders, nor ironwork, nor anything on dock that would affect tho compass.

To Mr Buddla: Ho mean', that' ho could see about a mile ahead when it was clear. To Captain Lambert: He ha<l been down there in 6trong westerly weather but ha<l not previously noticed a sot towards tho land. Edward Goodwin Fortescuo Zohrnb (socrotary to tho Chatham Islands Fishing Co.) said that the vessel was insured for £BOOO in the Victoria and the Indemnity Mutual Insurance companies ; the shippers, without instructions from the company, had insured the cargo for £125. There were 'also about 50 tons of coal aboard. Tho declared value of the ship for insurance purposes was £9OOO. The company had always found Captain Thompson a very careful and reliable skipper. His reputation was a good one. Personally, he ivould employ him again as captain on the name run: hut he could not speak for his company, as the matter had not been discussed by them. Norman Krie, Walker (chief engineer) gave corroborative evidence. The engines were -running at 118 revolutions all the time, making approximately, under normal conditions, eight knots an hour. He got instructions at 1.40 to go full speed astern, but a blade, or a. blade and a half, bad been broken off by tho first, bump. At 1.58 another blade broke off, and the engines raced and had not much effect. They kept trying to move the vessel by going "full speed astern, stop; full speed astern stop," till 4..5 ft.in., when the dynamo was put out of action by the water rising. To Mr Buddie: There was nothing iu tho running of the engines before sho struck to indicate to him that the vessel was not doing eight miles an hour. Ludwifj, Alen Cable seaman) said that ho was at the wheel when the vessel struck. Ho took over tho wheel at midnight. He could hear the captain's orders clearly and repeated the courses back to him. She was dead on the course when she struck. Martin Saiuuelson (able seaman on

I Hip looK-ouf) said that the weather ivas thick and squally when he went on duty. At times he could see what he took to be the loom of the land;, and they were, 90 far as He could see, well out. He did not see any breakers before she struck. He was keeping a careful wntch all the time, and saw nothing whatever to indicate that the course was dangerous. It was thick and squally when the vessel struck. To* Captain Lambert: He was keeping his look-out on tho bridge deck. They did not keep the look-out from the ' forecastle-head. He was doubtful if he could have, seen the breakers from the forecastle-head in time when the squalls were on. Johann Hanson (A. 8.) also gave evidence. Captain Thompson (recalled) said that there was very little room on the forecastle for a look-out. It was the practice on coastal vessels to post the look-out man on the bridge. Mr Buddie (counsel for Captain Thompson) called no witnesses, but road a number of declarations from fishermen at the islands, who stated that it was impossible always to gauge the speed or the direction of the get at the Chathams. One of them stated that he had observed very strong sets there, and on occasion had been as much as six miles out of his course. On tho day of tho stranding, said another, he had noticed a particularly strong set. THE DECISION. Mr Riddell said tho court, having | considered the evidence and dcclaraj lions presented to it concerning tho . wreck of the s.s. Himitangi on tho JMohau reef at tho Chatham Islands, jon July 29th, 1018, is of opinion that tho wreck was caused through the vessel striking an uncharted reef near Mohnu, on the west side of Cape Patterson, during a squall, on tho night of July 29th, while running between Wait an gi Bay and Kaingaroa, and that tho position of tho vessel at the timo of the wreck was due to a strong inset from tho north-west, which carriod her inshore, and off the course set by Captain Thompson. The court considers that there is no evidence to show that tho wreck was caused by, or contributed to, by the wrongful act or default of Charles Thompson, the master, or any of his officers or crew.

Tho court is also satisfied that the courses set by Captain Thompson were safe courses in ordinary circumstances; but we think that some record of these courses should have been kept fcy him.

The captain's certificate will be returned to him, and no order will bo niado as to costs. '