SINKING OF A PADDLE STEAMER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13874, 11 April 1907, Page 8

SINKING OF A PADDLE STEAMER.

nautical inquiry. Evidence a»s to seaworthiness. (Per Hotted Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 10. . The nautical inquiry into the loss of tho wooden paddlo steamer To Aroha, 50 tons net, built in 1876, was opened; at tho Magistrate's Court this afternoon by Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., and Captains Adamson and Mackenzie. The vessel sank off Peach Cove, near Whangarci Heads, on April 1, but with no loss of life. She was hound from Auckland to Waikato River, via North Capo.- Mr S. Mays (instructed by tho Crown-Solicitor) appeared for tho Collector : of Customs, and Mr J. Mills and Mr A. ■Hanna. appeared for Mr E, Hallett, owjier of the vessel^ Captain Wni. Thomas Mancbam, master of flie'Te Aroha, said that tho vessel leaked ilwdly when off Capo Rodney, and tfil hail lo bo used for propulsion, as well as for keeping her steady. She continued to make waters until tho fireman was washed off his feet. Tho seams under tho sponsons had opened up. Ho had a fore trysail and staysail set, and-tried to make- Whan|parpi 'Harbour, ek-am no lousier being ;av»ilttblc. Ho made an examination of the.vessel when ncaring Whangarei Heads, and ■ found some of tho seams of tho covering Tmrd on dec!: bad opened so -wide that one's hand could have been thrust in. '■' This was caulked as'well as could bo dono '.in the- circumstances. The- vessel had a heavy list to port, tho coal was washed out of Ilio starboard IVunkcr, and scon aftor- ■ wards tho valve, of 'the deek pump broke. He was not warnrd that the vessel would require " nursing." Evorythinpr in the ;shape of equipment complied , with Iho act. ■Tho,To Aroha- was built for river trado only. She was not; insured., W.lnlc tho sea was smooth tho pumps could keep , her free; but when there was ii littlo sea on and tho scams opened put, then'the water rushed in. Mr Kettle: You considered, in short. . ■that, the shin was nnseawcf.-thy and " that Iho repairs said lo have lieeiCdono wero not done? Witness: That is «>. Wo wero guided V tho account, for repttrs. and ns certain work was thero- charged for wo assumed that if had br.cn done. Wo went solely oh that. I should never Jwm $ono to sea 'in her had I Mispectod -that the repaire* hart not bwn effected. Crtorgo Tec, engineer of the To Aroha, said (he engines worn all right • when'" ho went on board. Tlioro were four inolici of ■ water, in Iho boat alonjtside thet boilers , ( wlitw tho To Avolw. left Auckland. gho , mano about un inch an hour after, leavliis 'Auckland in smooth water. There wero w> pumps attached lo the engine., but. all .depended on tho deck, pumps. Thero was an injector on board. Imt it could nob' havb 'been used as a pimp, foi thcro was not sufficient, sleam.. Wlien ho resumed his watch tho fireman j» (■•tamling in a. pool 'of , water, and- the hand pump on deek bad boon: in use, bill, it had broken down. Their buckets weir-.used halo her out. Mr ICoUlc: Had tho pumps not brokon. down could yon hnxo kept liur afloat? Witnera: Well, the coal-dust, floating about clno-gj-d the pump and broko tho valve. Had Iho pump not broken she could hnvo Ixrn kept alloat long enoughto li.iv-? been bewhcd. Tho , water fan nil down the eides of his bunk. He dirt ,all ho could with Iho engines to keep her. afloat, oven using kerocone for the fires when the rising water put out tlio biirniiiß- coal. If tho , account of ropnir* staled that the feedpump wo« new, llsifc would noh bo true. Th> pumo was not now. Alexander Alison, manager of tho Dcvon-n-ort. Rloam F"nj Company, *i> , li! s «>"■- pany bought, thrt -I'o Aroha in 1896. Ho paid ~£-340 for hhr. Siie was run on the harbour for one. summer, and was Inid up. In 1557 there were several inquiries for her. but she rert'ouied on tho slip until sold 10. Uio .present, owners. ,l Once, a year ago,-she was put. into thorough repair in order to run for towing on the Thames Eivor. Prior to lliat his company thought of breaking her up. She was sold lo Mr E. Hallott. of Mcrcor, for £150 as sho was, with all faults, tho company undertaking to; givo her a coat of paint on top. The imrvoying engineer was to say what was required to bo. done, and tlio company j would do it at Mr Haliett'e charges. Wit--31033 did not personally superintend tlx> repairs, but his son superintended that work. The To Aroha was seaworthy, but b!i" required "nurfiiw." Edward Hallett, owjier of tho To Aroha,, Bald he Rave Mr Alison an absolutely,froo hand ns to repaire undertaking .to pay' tho ■ cost. ' Henry Wolherilt. 'ioverirmmt-surveyor, onitl lie luul inspected the To Aroha fivo times. ~ ,_ , Mi" Kettle: Did you.'in arwsring repairs ! to bo done, Amply with secf.ion 7 of Ihc \Boardof Trade regulations, which provides .for notice to ho given in writing? Witness: No. All was done verbally. ' Wo never givo notice in miling except in an obstinate cine. Wo wjrk under, tho Board cf Trade regulations 'as a guide. Mr Kettle: Do you keep any records of tho Accessary repairs? . . Witness: Xo. Mr Mays:- Rid jou follow the usual custom? Witness: Yes. Witness gavo the court particulars of the repairs lio lind ordered to bo done. He ordered a. new feed pump. Thie pump was not now, but was a gcod pump. • \ Mr Kettle: The account for repairs says it was a new pump. Continuing, witness said ho had insiwetcd tho liull, boiler, mid macsinery. Ho saw tlio covering board which was said to have Icon defective. The vessel was then on -the «lip. A little'over 3ft 6'jn ot wider wiw Tramped. into the vessel to'test the. bottom for tiglriaess. There was one small leak along the garboard slmke, about 12ft from •the stem oil the port side, but tho. copper was takiui off, Iho seam reaiulked, and reeheathed. The ship was cleared on tho declaration of witness that, ho had com. plctcd ■■' tho 'survey. He completed his eurxoy on March 28, and tho steamer sailed on Murch 31. Mr Kettle: When did you wire to Weilincton for a permit for this vessel to Bail? Witness: Tho day before the ship foundered. Mr Kettle: .How do you account for that delay? Witness: Tho holidays intervened, and I supposo press of work wns responsible as well. Mr Eettle: Under -what authority do you give thnt declaration vo the Collector of Customs? Witness: It has always oecn done. It. is tho usiial custom to expedite clearances bo that a bijr steamship can proceed to Bea. ♦ ; Mr Kettle: Without (he act being complied with? Witness: Yes, if. tho Minister orders it.' Continuing, witness sud the captain of the To Aroha wanicd to take full advantage of the fmo wither, and that was why witness assisted him. Under Iho net oi 1877 interim certificates could be issued. < Mr Mays: Tint is not the law, but it is the fact? Witness: Yes. Mr Keltic: lint that act has been repealed. We nxa not going to work under that. > ' Mr Mays asked witness if it were not the eaa> that the surveyor issued interim certificates? Witness replied that it was, but in a case of soecial urgency like this a telegram tras tent. Mr Mays: Js not that nprtion of the act relating to survey of ships practically unworkable in many instances? Witness:. Yes, because it often means expensive ami unnecessary delay pending ,the receipt of iho certificate of survev from Wellington. Mr Mays: Were you satisfied with the ' seaworthiness of the vessel? Witness: Yes; she was seaworthy, and fit to undertake that voyage by nursing, but not to be put to sea in rough water and let the seas beat away under her paddle boxes. Mr Mays: Can you account for (he vowel opening up and making water as she did? Witness said the sea which the Tβ Aroha met with was obviously too heavy for her. . The inquiry was adjourned until tomorrow afternoon.-