THE WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 826, 6 December 1878, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

Taxteakga, Dec. 5,

On the Court resuming, the captain said he was not aware at the time that there wa3 any set of the tide towards the shoal water. The chief officer holds a master's certificate, and the second officer holds a mate's certificate. The vessel ought to have passed from 2b to 3} miles from Karewa, Can only account for the catastrophe by the indraft to the bay, and do not attach any blame to the officers. There were about three tons of iron aboard. The boats were all in good order. Did not test the compasses this trip, as he had no opportunity on account of the thick weather. Have had a larger quantity of iron on board without it affecting the compasses. Don't think the look-out mail was short-sighted. She should have been swujig this trip at Wellington. J. A. Wilson, Judge of Native Lands Court, deposed that the circulation and currents of air and the sea had beeij one

of his chief studies for years. There was a strong current .setting in when the Taranati was lost. He visited Karewa two days after the wreck, when the current was from N. E. to the S. and W., wind from IST. E. He should think it would affect a vesspl outside Karewa, going from a mile to a mile and a half an hour. Witness had been set towards the rock himself in a small boat in calm weather. From the same quarter the current would be stronger in summer than in ' winter. It empties itself at Cape Runaway, and runs quite two knots an hour. He was also nearly wrecked off White Island by a current. He considered a master knowing other parts of the coast might be taken by surprise here. The first and second officers confirmed the captain's evidence. The chief officer's log book shows that a precisely similar course was steered on the last trip. The Court adjourned till to-morrow.