SINKING OF A PADDLE STEAMER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13875, 12 April 1907, Page 6

SINKING OF A PADDLE STEAMER.

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

(Per Uxited Press Association.) . AUCKLAND, April 11. Tho nautical inquiry into the loss of.llie wooden paddlo steamer Te Aroha, 50 tons net, built in 1876, was continued at the Magistrate's Court this afternoon by Mr C. V. Kettle, S.M., ami Captains Adamson and Mackenzie. The vessel sank off Pencil Covo, near W hangarei Heads, on April 1. Henry Wethcrilt, Government Surveyor, ill continuing his evidence, said that he (lid not make a declaration that the Te Aroha was lit to bo taken from Auckland round the North Cape to the Waikato River. The only declaration was that tho vessel was fit to trade, on the Waikato Hi vqr, and nothing else. Mr Kettle, S.M.: Did you say that Iho vessel would have to bo nursed V'

Witness: I did not state that. It was only a matter of advice. She did tho voyage years ago, and I believed she was in better condition than then. My experience has made me very cautious, anil a man in my position has to bo cautious. Would you let her go again ? Yes, I would take her myself. Any yachtsman would have gloried in taking the vessel round the coast. The vessel should have been " nursed." She was fully equipped in accordance with tho regulations.

Edward Alexander Alison, superintending engineer to the Devonport Perry Company, said he received verbal instructions for the repairs to be carried out. to tho To Archa. They consisted in, repairs to the hatches, skylights, and caulking to tho hull above the coppering. In one place in the bow they renewed about 4ft of the planking. All the other portions of tho vessel were carefully exa/niucd and found to be all right. Tho caulking was hard and firm all round when the vessel ieft tho company's yards. He believed tho boat was thoroughly seaworthy and fit to proceed round tho North Cape to the Waikato iii ordinary weather. The To Aroha had been lying in the company's yards about eight years. The vessel took in 6in or 7in of water tho first 20 hours sho was in the water, but this gradually lessened on subsequent days. Tho pump and injector attaefcid to the engine pumped the vessel out. About an hour and a-half to two hours was occupied in pumping the vessel out. On the second day after launching the Te Aroha only gained about half as much water as on the first day.

Mr Hanna: In view of what has happened, do you consider the vessel was seaworthy ? Witness: Yea, certainly. The only way that lie could account for tho pump being choked up with coal was the water washing the coal through tho door of the bunker.

Captain Mincham (recalled) said tho steam was practically useless after tho To Aroha reached Caps Rodney. For threequarters of an hour at a time they did not get any steam at- all. The whole trouble occurred through the under portions of the paddle-boxes giving way and letting tho water in. If the engineer had kept up steam he would have kept- nearer tho shore. He would even then have had difiicully in keeping tlio vessel afloat, as she was making water fast. William Pearson, fireman on tho To Aroha, said' tlio stanchions supporting tho bunkers collapsed, and he found the wood was rotten. The coal was washed on ono side, and gave tho vessel a list. Tlio inquiry was then adjourned until to-morrow morning.