SMALL STEAMER WRECKED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

SMALL STEAMER WRECKED.

AUCKLAND, April 3. The To Aroha, a small wooden .steamer, was wrecked oft Whaiigarei Heads. She whs bound from Aueklaud to Waikato.

Tho To Aroha was6l tow register, and wos purchased recently from tho Devonport, Forry Company by parties in Waikato to tow coal barges down tho river. She left Auckland on Sunday last in chargo of Captain Minchin. Everything wont, well until Monday afternoon, when a heavy sea was encountered, and the steamer began to make a great deal of water. When Bream Head was readied she was straining considerably. The master tried to work her in to tho beach, at Peach Cove, but tlio water gaindd so rapidly that the attempt had to ho abandoned. , The crew, numbering seven, then took to tHo boat and landed at the Cove, and took some of their effects with them. 1 After landing these they went back to tlio steamer again, and the weather being line,' they secured tlio balance of their personal bropert-y. The To Arolia then had over 7ft of water in her hold. A little later she suddenly disappeared. Captain Minchin aiid his crew were picked up at I lie Cove by, a coastal steamer and. landed at Auckland last night. Mr G. H. White, niato of tho To Aroha, nearly lost his' life when tho vessel's boat was alongside thu rescuing steanidr.Ngapulu, preparatory to being taken aboard. The Ngapuhi was going astern when tho boat struck hoi' propeller and was completely smashed. White dived from the boat, and was being drawn on to-the propeller by tho suction, when his danger was observed, and tho engines were stopped in the hick of time. He had all his clothes and hoots on, and when 110 was rescued ho,was thoroughly .exhausted.

JUDGMENT OF TllE NAUTICAL COURT.

AUCKLAND, April 12. I'ho court, in its judgment, found that tho provisions of tho Shlppitig and Seamen Act had not bceii cbmplied with, 110 certificate or interim certificate hnving been issued. Therefore the provisions of the act, which requires a certificate to be posted up in a conspicuous .part of the ship, could not 1)0 complied with. This was an important thing to db, bcciuse it assured seamen' and passengers that the ship had boon, surveyed, and was (it for tho voyage. In this eeso tho eliip had been surveyed, bill no declaration Was made by the''surveyors .that it wits fit-for tho journey round thfe North Cane. Thfc. court war, satisfied that tho vessel was imiit to undertako tho voyage, tho repairs effected being insufficient, moro especially in regard •to tho covering board, which,, although the most vital part of the bodt, tho evidence showed was' rotten. The court-.was satisfied thiit. tho captain, engineer, and crow did ail that was possible under the circumstances, and no blamo was attachable-to them. It considered an amendment uas required lo allow a certificate to bo issued at Auckland instead of from Wellington, and also that in tho case of wooden vessels the surveyor should be assisted by a competent shipwright. Tho court, held that the owner of the vessel (Mr Ilallef) was responsible, as it was his business to have seen that Iho aet was. carried out, aild to get a certifiedte from tho surveyor. Ho had not acted wrongly intentionally, and if he was misled lie had- his remedy at law. Tho owner was ordered to pay tho costs. Tho captain's certificate was returned. v.