THE WRECK OF THE TAIAROA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7541, 19 April 1886, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE TAIAROA.

THE OFFICIAL INQUIRY.

(.Per United Press Association.)

"Wellington, April 17.

The official iuquiry was commenced at Wellington this morning before Mr Stratford, 8.M., and Captain Norris (as nautical assessor). Mr Travers appeared for Captain Thompson.

The following are the principal points of Captain Thompson's evidence: —When the vessel got to Wellington Heads she was started to the west. The usual course was three-quarters till the vessel reached Cape Campbell. They then deviated three-quarters of a point from the true course. The Taiaroa was swung and had her compasses adjusted about eight mouths ago. The card which was in the cabin showed threequarters west of deviation. A N.W. wind was blowing when she left, but it gradually died awaj when abreast of Cape Campbell. The Hauroto passed the Taiaroa, seven miles

this side of the Cape on the inside, about a mile from the Taiaroa. The wind changed to the south after passing the Cape, and blew fresh from the south, with heavy rain. Witness was on declc till 6 o'clock, when he went down to tea. He could see the land until between 4.30 and 5 p.m., but after that the rain obscured it, and we only got occasional glimpses of it. There was a patent log, and it was put out at Wellington Heads. During the N.W. weather we were going from 10 to 12 knots, but after 6 p.m. nine knots. At about 6.25 witness went on deck again, but could not see the land. He told the mate to keep a sharp look-out. He changed the course at about 4 p.m. to S. §W. Shortly after 7 o'clock laud was reported right under the port bow, but it was too dark to see what it was. Witness rushed on to the bridge and found the helm being put hard to starboard. He gave the order " Full speed astern," but the same moment she struck. When witness got on the bridge the telegraph pointed to " Full speed ahead." The vessel would not go astern, but bumped heavily several times. He told the carpenter to let off rockets and bluo

lights, and lie set off one of each. Witness supposed that the rest got too wet. They had no Holmes' deck-lights on board. The boats were dropped astern of the gangway—not astern of the ship—so as to get protection from the hull. The sea broke over the ship now and again. Witness sent the second mate in the gig to try and get a lino ashore, but he returned saying the beach was too steep and he could not land. One of tlielifeboats was lowered on the weather side, and taken round under the stem. She stove herself a little in the operation, and his own boat (the pinnace) broke away. They could only get one rowlock to work. They found a spikenail in the bottom of the boat and tied an oar to it, but even with the two oars they could make no way. They afterwards made rowlocks out of the yoke-lines and again tried to get back, but without avail. Ho never knew where they had struck till he got to Blenheim. He heard no passenger ask him where they were, but the mate asked him, and he said " Probably about 20 miles from Kaikoura." He would swear he did not say five miles from Kaikoura or that they wer&iu Halfmoon Bay. He did not think that if he had looked at the compass he would have known he was ashore on Waipapa Point; and even if he had, he would still have put the passengers in the boats. He intended, had he not been blown away, to let the boats hang on to the ship and see if she resisted the waves, and then to return on board in the morning if it was safe to do so. He could not tell the Court how he came to run ashore. He never looked at the compass after 4 o'clock, when he altered the course at Cape Campbell. He did not enter it in the log, but in his note-book, which was in his clothes left" at the ship. He did not take bearings of Cape Campbell when he altered the course. '■' He could give no explanation as tp the cause of the accident, uuless'it was faulty steering or astrong current. _He never knew of a'current setting: in to land there,-but had heard.Jof it sinceihe wreck. There was nothing about it on the* chart. He had made the same voyage ouce a fortnight for nine months. He only knew the helmsman by sight, not by name. The man was drowned. There were three compasses on board. There was some iron in the fore hold and on the fore deck, but not enough to affect them. The usual course was not adhered to as far as Cape Campbell, on account of the strong nor'-wester. He did not hear the look-out man sing out. He had never' before been close to the shore between Cape Campbell and Waipapa Point, so far as he knew. The helmsman steered properly. The wind came up suddenly when the accident happened. When witness left the deck at 10 minutes to 6 the vessel was 22 or 23 miles south of Cape Campbell. He believed that had the vessel been stopped at once, and no time lost in giving the alarm, she might possibly have been saved; as, allowing a rate of nine knots, she would have been 540 yds from the shore. He did not. think it necessary to alter the course half a point southerly to provide against the southeast roll and the strong southerly wind. It was a steady rule of the Company that the officer of the watch was to give the alarm to' the captain. This closed the captain's examination, and the inquiry was adjourned till 10 a.m. on Monday. :; The Seamen's Union have resolved to subscribe £50 towards the fund for the relief of the widows and children of those lost in the Taiaroa.

Blenheim, April 17.

Mr Vallance's body was buried at Flasbourne yesterday, the Rev. F. S. Grace, of Blenheim, reading the service. Mr "Vallance's brother and Mr R. Mason, his late partner, were present.

There is no further news from the wreck. No more bodies have been recovered.

Messrs Grant and M'Quartier reached here last night, where they remain under instructions from the Government. '

THE FUNERALS OF TWO OF THE, VICTIMS.

The bodies of H. B. Blonkuian, chief officer, and Robert Morrison, fireman, who weredrowned at the wreck of the s.s. Taiaroa, were conveyed to Duuedin in the steamer Omapere on Saturday, and the joint funeral took place on Sunday afternoon. Some thousands of people assembled to witness the procession starting from the Rattray street wharf at 3 o'clock, and the streets all along the Hue of route were thronged with spectators. A great crowd of people had also assembled in the cemetery, and when the cortege arrived there must have been between 7000 ami SOOO people present. Tho procession was headed by some 200 members of the United Ancient Order of Druids, the various lodges marching in the following order:—All Nations, Port Chalmers, West Harbour, Linden, Royal Oak, Ivanhoe, Enterpcise, and Otago (of which the deceased Morrison was a member). The rear of the procession of Druids, which preceded the hearse, was brought up by. the past district presidents of the Order (Bros. Moss, Jones, Stokes, and Hutchinson) aud the present district president (Bro. W. Baird). The coffins were borne to the graves by seameu in the uniform of the Union Steam Ship Company, tho coflins being covered with wreaths and bouquets of flowers by the relatives of the deceased. The joint burial service was conducted at Monkman's grave by the Rev. Rutherford Waddell and Mr Bruuton, and the funeral service of the Druids' order was afterwards read at Blorrisoirs grave by Bro. Baird, D.P.

At the Jewish Synagogue ou Saturday morning the Rev. B. Lichtensteiu,in the course of his sermon referred in feeling terms to the disaster. In concluding his discourse he spoke as follows :—" Let us hope that they for whom wo now mourn have been received into the abode of the righteous, among those who have, fulfilled their mission on earth; that their sins have been forgiven, and that their bodily suffering through the terror and pangs of death have purified their spirits from the dross of iniquity; and for the survivors, for the bereaved widows, and for the fatherless children, let us invoke the mercy of Heaven. May He bestow on them His consolation ; may He shield them by His beneficent protection from all evil, and guide them into happiness both on earth and when their spirits are freed from the trammels of the body; may Ho be a protector to tho widows, to the father and the fatherless, aud teach them to regard Him as the Holy and Righteous One, as thensole refuge; as He is the refuge and consolation of the children of man. aud especially of the children of the people of Israel. Amen."