THE ONSLOW-MOERANGI INQUIRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12602, 4 March 1903, Page 7

THE ONSLOW-MOERANGI INQUIRY.

The Onslow-Moerangi inquiry was contiinied at Hie Magistrate';. Court yesterday, before Mr E. H. Carew, S.M., and Captain Siradslrom, assessor. Mr Chamberlain' conducted tho proceedings on behalf of (lie Marine Department, Mr Hanlon appeared ; for the master of the Moerangi, and Mr W. C. MacGregor for tho master of the Onslow. Mr Chamberlain intimated that he had no further evidence to call, mid at the suggestion 1 of Mr MacGrcgor counsel proceeded to call evidence before addressing tho court. Bichard Ambroso (called by Mr Hanlon) said he was a deck hand 011 the Moerangi.- Was coming lip the harbour 011 tho lltli January last in the Moerangi, and when they got to the beacon at Macauil-rew Bay the Onslow was 011 the port side of the Moerangi. Witness was standing alongside the skipper, who was at the wheel. The Onslow was about loft or 20ft away from the Moerangi. As the Moerangi rounded the beacon the Onslow gave a sheer • in towards tlicm, anil witness sang out to tho man at the Onslow's wheel, "Look out, Jack; where are you going? " The man at the wheel gave it three turns and put her. head to port, but sh» did not seem to answer it. When she did she look a sheer inshore, nearly on shore. They straightened her up again as she came tip to the wharf. Before the Onslow gave this sheer inshore the Moerangi did not try to oross her bow. When the Onslow took tho sheer tho captain of the Moerangi starboarded his helm to fetch the Moerangi round» the beacon. He put her to starboard—that was away from the Onslow. Then he put his helm the other way to avoid a collision. Witness could not swear there was a collision. He never saw or felt one. To Mr MacGregor: Had had nine months' experience in the Dmiedin Harbour in tho ■ Moerangi. Took tlie Moerangi from Kusscll'b Jetty up to town, but did not take her through the islands. Was fishing at Moeraki before he becaino a deck hand on tho Moerangi. On this Sunday the Moerangi overlook the Onslow on the run up from Broad Bay. On leaving Broad Bay the Onslow was leading by about two boat lengths, and after she got up to the starboard" side of the Onslow she kept there until rounding the beacon at Macandrews. Tho two boats ran side by side from Grassy Point to rounding th tencon. Did not notice after rounding the beacon which bow was ahead, because he was not in the bow.' "When th© sheer started the boats were 16ft to 20ft apart, and when it finished they were alongside each other. They were never nearer than Bft or 10ft. Could not say now many degrees the sheer would be. To Mr Chamberlain: The two boats wore 011 an average from 15ft to 20ft apart going from Broad Bay tt Kussell's Jetty. The-boats were never within a foot of one another. Never saw them within a foot. To Mr Hanlon: If tho chain slipped on tho barrel tho boat would not answer her helm. Herbert Gilford, passenger by the Moerangi on the Sunday in question, said 110 was stand-, ing 011 the port bow when the affair took place. , Both boats had to have their port to go round tlie beacon, and both -were level. -When they got round the beacon the captain of the Moerangi put his lielm slightly to starboard to check her from coming round too far. Wen he steadied her the Onslow was still coming round on her port helm, find c&mo so close that the captain of the' Moerangi hud to

put liia helm slightly to starboard. The ! Onslow's helm was at this time bard a-star- ! board, to tako her away from (ho Moerangi. | No attempt was made by the Moerangi to cross j tho bows of the Onslow. Witness neither saw nor felt any collision between tho two steamers. ; The man at the wheel on the Onslow put the j iicliu hard a-starboard, to head her inshore, j but tho steamer did not answer her helm; why, witness did not know. I To Mr MacGregor: Was an extra, deck hand | on the Hocnmgi on the Sunday in question. : Was generally employed on the Moerangi oh ■ Sundays. ! Mt MacGregor: Why did you tell my friend Mr Hanlon that you wcro a passenger? By saying you wero a passenger did you think it would give your evidence additional weight?— Witness: No. Witness (continuing) said the 6teamers could not havo bumped without his , knowledge, as ho was looking over the side watching both boats. Ho was looking astern, pjid, could seo dear between the two vessels when running together round the beacon. They I did not como closer to each other than 4in. , To Mr Chamberlain: On leaving Brojd Bay ; tho two vessels might havo been in contact for 15 or 20 seconds. i, Mr Chamberlain: And yet you Bay you never ■ ■ experienced a caso of vessels bumping? AIM Challis, market gardener at North- ; East Harbour, said ho had considerable know- : ; ledgo of tho harbour from yachting in it. His i' place was nbont a mile from Russell's jetty, , ; and from there ho saw tho steamers coming 1 ■ up. Ho watched them with a glass, and all ; appeared to go well until rounding No. 4 rod i beacon, opposite Macandrew's Bay. They were i . then running side by side, ;nd when- once fairly i round and on tho straight towards Russell's the Onslow suddenly sheered into tho Moerangi, , coming very close. She then swung hard over towards the shore. The Moerangi held a i straight course. The only th ing witness noticed her do was to go slightly to port—that was to : the left. Tho Onslow travelled two or threo i lengths ehorewaad before she straightened, and ; when clear the Moerangi went to starboard, i Could not say whothor the boats camo into i contact, but to all appearance they were very ; close. i To Mr MacGregor: It might bo a mile and I a-half, or a trifle more, from his place to where ■ tho steamers were. [ The first witness called by Mr MacGregor i was Peter Sutherland, who said ho was a pas- ; Ber.ger by the Onslow on the day on which the i alleged collision took place. Knew the channel i from Broad Bay well, owing (o yachting oxperii ence. Was on the starboard side of the Onslow. forward. The Onslow got about a couplo of . lengths' lead of (he Moerangi after leaving Broad Bay. The Moerangi was catching her up now and again. It was a, give-and-take race i all the way. Tho Moerangi never got her stem ahead of the Onslow. Between Grassy Point i and Macandrew's the vessels were as close together as 20ft, and then they would swing - out again. The Moerangi would be about 15 yards from the beacon when rounding it, and 1 the Onslow was about 20ft from the Moerangi. They were abreast in rounding the beacon, and still remained abreast after having rounded it. : After rounding the beacon there was a sandbank, and when the two steamers got abreast 1 of this (hey appeared lo bo drawn together, 1 and came within at most Oft of oacli other. ' The Onslow appeared (o keep her course in the middle oi (ho channel. The Moerangi 1 'altered her courso a little to port, witness 1 thought, and the steamers came so close to- ' gother. that when the Onslow altered her course ■ .to get out of tho w.iy they bumped by tho ■ stern. It wr,s not sufficiently severe to injure a plank of the small boat. Did not agree that 1 tho Onslow sheered in towards tho Moerangi ! just alter rounding the beacon. Witness ■ thought that by the Moerangi'h altered course 1 she was trying to keep off the bank, but ihere 1 .was no necessity to do that, as thero was plenty 1 of water. On the court resuming at 2.15, tho last v.-itness ; Faid that tho channcl to his acfual knowledge was narrower than appeared on iho chart. ' Just before the bump tho Onslow starboarded | her holin, and it was that which caused the bump. Sho answered her helm v.ery quickly. ' Could not say whether the Moerangi shifted her helm. Did not hear anyone called out from the ' Moerangi, "Where are you coming to. Jack?" 1 There was a lot of shouting out among the ' passengers iu reference to the close position | of the boats and the cafching up on cach other. ' The passengers put out (heir sticks and umbrellas to touch the other bo?.t. There had ' been- a lot of hanging on to each other on the ' part of tho boats from their leaving Broad Bay. I Bid not think tho deck hand steering the J Onslow turned tho wheel round three times. , He did not seem to turn it more than a quarter, [ and appoared to steer well. It was the Onslow ( answering her helm so quickly that caused the . sterns to bump. She was steered properly to avoid a'Collision, in witness's opinion. \ To Mr Hanlon: It was the after quarter of j the boats that bumped, not tho stems. Did ~ not think it waa correct to say that the ! Afoerangi was endeavouring to cross the bow i of the 011310 W., The captain of the Onslow was taking tickets at the time, about 15ft from tho wheel. Could not see the wheel on tho Onslow, but could sec the man'at the wheel. Tho action of tho man ?.t the wheel showed . how far he turned the wheel. To Mr Chamberlain; Witness did not think ' the boats wero racing. Mr Chamberlain: It it your opinion they wero racing?— Witness: Jio. L Mr Chamberlain: You don't think cach was striving to get to tho jetty first.—"Witness: ?s T o, , I don't think so. . Mr Chamberlain: You say the passengers i were making a noise. Do you think they were i alarmed ?—Witness: No. | Mr Carew: Did you hear anything about a [ woman fainting or screaming?— Witness: No. : To Mr MacGregor: The Onslow kept her proper courso till she starboarded her helm. ; If she had not done that thero must have been 1 a collision. John M'Lellan, boat builder, said he was [ with last witness 011 board the Onslow, which I was about two lengths ahead of the Moerangi 1 before getting to Grassy Point. Rounding the point the Moerangi made up to them on the • starboard side, and the positions remained [ unaltered, the boats running aCout 30ft apart, ; and sometimes more. At the beacon they were i '20ft apart, and came round the beacon on ' parallel courses. After rounding the beacon • both boats steered a vety fair courso, but one 1 time got a little close together—aoout 15ft from l each other. That was before t-hey straightened 1 their course for Russell's jetty. Witness believed the reason for the steamers getting so i clo3E was the suctiou. There was a very low ■ tido that Sunday, and both steamers had a 1 crowd on board. Witness heard somebody on 1 board the Moerangi scream, out, and, looking ■ round, saw the sterns of the vessels coming to- - gcther. The Onslow steered away inshore at : once, and witness thought the Moerangi, giving away a bit, 100,. to avoid a collision, 1 brought tho two quartets together. The hand on the Onslow appeared to steer her well, and she answered her helm quickly. After (he Onslow branched off she took her proper course and got to BusaoU's jetty first. Never saw tho Onslow sheer in towards the Moerangi. To Mr Hanlon: Did not see the Moerangi attempt to pass the bow of the Onslow. Saw . the helmsman 011 the Onslow give the wheel ■ about half a turn. John Nelson, deck hand on board the Onslow, said he was steering the vessel 011 the lltli January. The Onslow did not steer very well ' at low water. On the Sunday he steered the , usual course, with instruction from Captain , Williams. From Grassy Point to the beacon tho boats were 15ft or more- apart, and 011 : reaching the beacon they wero about abreast and were aboutJOft apart. In rounding the beacon, if the Moerangi had not 011 their starboard side, witness would have steered a little closer. After rounding witness followed ; the proper course. About 100 vards past the. beacon the vessels nenred each" other. Could not say whether the Onslow was steadied and tho Moerangi came in towards her, or the Moerangi was steadied and the Onslow cnino in towards her. One of the two things must havo happened. Witness did not alter the helm as far as he could remember. Ho only steadied the boat before the boats approached each other. Did not hear anyone sing out from tho deck of the Moerangi to look out where he -was coming. There might have been a danger of coming in contact with the other boat if he had not shifted the helm. He gave the wheel half a turn, but. might have turned it more, and the boat answered her helm ail right. Could not Bay whether the Moerangi altered her course, and could not say whether the boats touched or licit. To Mr Hanlon: Did not put the helm hard over. There was no occasion to. It waa not true that he gave the wheel two w three turns. The chain slipped on the barrel, but not round it. One part of (he chain rose on another, and then slipped off on to tho barrel again. It did not slip when the helm was put to starboard. It rose and slipped when the helm was put to port. The Onslow was bad to steer at low water when she was crowded. To Captain Sundstrom: There were three turns round the barrel. Witness never saw the three turns slip round the barrel. The further hearing of the inquiry was adjourned to Tuesday next, the court rising at 5.30 p.m. Eedcliffo Crown Brand Galvanised Iron is the iron to use i r exposed nositions. — Tho ormino is the only stoat whose coat is turned white with tho coming of tho snowtime.. Tho process of change 13 thin: the hairs that come at tho time of the transformation arc whito, those already grown become blanched. And it has been found that cold alone will not produce the change but that it comes with the snow, thus showing that natural selection has given to the northern sfoat this wonderful means of protection. The 'Arctic hare, tho Arctic fox, aud, to some extent, the lemming, in Arclio regions, change their dress to match the snow.