THE WRECK OF THE THURSO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10449, 27 August 1895, Page 1

THE WRECK OF THE THURSO.

The :udgraent of the Court of Inquiry into the i wreck of the barque Thurso at Greymouth was given on August 17, and appears to have created \ general dissatisfaction iv shipping circles; so much so that the Shipmasters' Association is moving to have the whole particulars of the case , submitted to the Government. The facts of the accident, briefly stated, are that 'the barque ' inurso took in a cargo of timber at Greymouth I tor Capetown. When loaded her draught of water was 16ft 6in aft and 16ft 3in forward. Lefore she was ready for sea a bank formed in the river, so that oven at the highest spring tides the ' depth was such that it would be "touch and go with the barque in getting out. However, oa August 7 Captain Standard consulted the responsible officer of the port, who holds the dual position of harbourmaster and master of the tug, and that officer, after taking soundings, gave it as his opinion that the vessel could sarely negotiate the bar. The result of the soundings, according to the judgment, was that at high water there would be approximately. 18ft bin of water on the bar. Armsd with this.! expression of opinion, Captain 'Stannard cast off from' the wharf and was taken ie tow by the tug Westland: Just at this time there was a little south-westerly swell on the bar, which was estimated to vary the j depth of water on an average by about 2ft.-i Durine the towing operations the vessel repeatedly touched the bottom, although in the channel. Upon reaching the bar the hawser by winch the barque was being towed broke, and the swell drove hei- on to the Norr.h Tip Head at the mouth of the Grey river. These facts (says the Lyttelton Times) were gleaned from the magistrate's review of the evidence, and the conclusions deduced from them by that official are of a rather remarkable description. The first paragraph of the magistrate's judgment finds that tho barque was lost "by her taking the ground on I the Ureymouth bar while fastened to'and towed by the Greymouth Harbour tug Westland, by the pan ing of towing hawser after the barque had struck the ground." It is not intended here to dispute the facts, but Captain Stannard deposed that the towline parted after the bar was crossed and before the ship took the ground. Whether this is so or not, there appears to j have been doubts in the mind of the master of, the tug as to whether tW hawser was strong enough to tow the vessel in the sea then running. | Then comes the point in the judgment which has ; caused extreme dissatisfaction. Captain Stannard I is held blamable for not having gone to the bar >| himself and taken soundings,/ although he iscredited by the court witU having accepted the I advice of the responsible officer of the port, a man with nine years' experience of the place. For this so-called neglect Captain Stannard is "rnade-to smart," to quote the words of the judgment, to the extent of £12, while the magistrate volunteers the statement that if he had the power he would call upon the master of the tug to pay the balance of the costs of the inquiry. ■■■''■