NAUTICAL INQUIRIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13675, 18 August 1906, Page 10

NAUTICAL INQUIRIES.

-«■ TDK'.SIR HENRY. HAEREMAI, AXD AOTEA. (Tilt Ukitkd Press Association.) , AUCKLAND. August 17. A nautical inquiry was opened 10-day into the wreck of the ketch Sir Henry, winch was lost with all buds on .lulv 17. The. Collector of Customs said that* the ketch left Auckland on .lidv. 12 in good condition, and, to the best of his holier, fully equipped, and with a. crew of four and one passenger. He had no definite evidence of the vessel's seaworthiness, and could not find any department that possessed such evidence, lie co'uiil not say whose duty ii_was lo have Ihat informstion. George "s'ieoll, shipbuilder, said that he inspected tho ketch before she left, port. She was a. first-class vessel, anil was well found. Captain Gpomcs- was a careful, sober man. Evidence was given by A. P. dagger, who formerly owned a half-sharo in the vessel. She wa.s well built, and the equipments were good. Witness was not fully'conversant with tho Harbour Beard regulations ill regard to I In? depositing of the'manifest of the cargo.with a Harbour Koard official before vessels are unmoored from the wharf 'or anchorage. This was a duly of the master, and he believed it was generally complied with by masters, but was not certain. Ernest G. R. Ford, shipowner and atrent. said the regulation just referred to was almost a dead letter, except with foreigngoing ships. Captain Fleming;, superintendent of mercantile marine, said the vessel wae well found in' eve'ry vvivy, and was far ahead of the ordinary lot, Mr Kettle, S.M., asked: How often do the regulations require you to examine ships - ;— Witness: No intervals are stipulated, but 1 should certainly take once every 12 months, to be a fair thins- I have only been appointed two months, and there are some 200 of these small craft running out of the port; consequently 1 have only examined 11 so far. Is- there any officer who inspects deck cargo?— There is a Customs official who looks after that. Captain Parker: I believe he keeps eye on all vessels Icavinjr, to see that they are not submerged; but the crow themselvce 6ec to that. Mr Kettle: Do you mean to tell me that the crew—some of them ignornnt men from the shore—really bother themselves about that?—l do, sir; and they bother me a good deal, too. What have they ever bothered '-on about —Not overloading, but about er.'jipmout. The inquiry in this case was adjourned pending receipt of further evidence as to weather and the lighthouse keeper's statement. In opening the inquiry regarding the supposed wreck of the liacremai. Mr Rose said this ease was peculiar, in that there* was no evidence at all as to what had become of her. She was in good condition, fully equipped, and with a crew of five all told. . She was reported by the East Coast .island lightkecper as passing on May 19. and had not been heard of since. Apparently site was lost with all bauds. Mr Kettle asked about the deek cargo, and said: It seems to mo to be one of the most important points to be, inquired. into to find whether the vessel was overloaded or not. I think we should have that evidence as soon as poxsiblo. It had been suggested that Captain Parker would know? Mr Rose: No: he has far too much work to do. It would require 20 men to attend to it. with all those 250 small cratt. Mr Kettle asked Mr Xiccoi, buih'er of the Haercmai, if it was not desirable that the plans of all new vessels'should be submitted to the Marine Department for approval. Witness: I don't think thev would understand them if we did. Mr Rose: But the idea is that they would be submitted to experts. Mr Kettle: That should be done, otherwise there may be about as much care taken as with fire cscaocs and such things on shore. In my opinion, very great care, should be taken to see that vessels arc properly built and seaworthy. Wo have a large floating population on the water, and we want to take care of them as far m we can. Don't you think it necessary that, more care should be taken to prevent loss of life? Witness: If you saw the stack ot stuff we have got to carry aboard for life-wing you would be rather surprised. " W. T. R. Eatly, manifest clerk of the Harbour Hoard, was examined concerning the delivery of manifests of cargo More unmooring. The ride was not strictly enforced. In regard to the Sir Henry, there was no manifest available, because, as filie was bound for Gisborne (a place, in the Auckland province), there was no onaigc for wharfage. Evidence of men wa3 then taken regarding the loss of the schooner Aotca. at Waipiro 13av, with all hands'. It was stated that the vessel was thoroughly sea worthy and sound, and had just been overhauled, owing to an accident on a previous oca- I sinn. before she left on the last. trap. Tho court adjourned till 'Tuesday, m ortler to secure evidence from the Marine Department, Wellington, and the depositions at tho inquest on the bodies of tho Aotca's crew. —-' zzSZZ^i —~