THE STRANDING OF THE INVERAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13896, 7 May 1907, Page 5

THE STRANDING OF THE INVERAN.

(Per United Pbe.is Association.) W I!I.!,i>.I; !(!>;, May 6.

All inquiry into the stranding of the steamer lnveran, H<!3b Inns, at Point .Jerninehum, Wellington Harbour, during a storm on tho night of April 2-1, was held to day before Dr M'Arthui', with (.'aplain.s Ander.-on and Gray, nautical assessors, and Mr X. Kempton, engineer assessor.

Captain Maishall, master of the vessel, deposed thnt- lie anchored at 9.40 it; llj fathoms, taking the usual hearings and precautions. At 10.15 Jio lot go anotliei' anchor, us i!x; vessel was sheering. Twentv minutes later the vessel commenced to drag. lie sent word for steam to lie put on the engines, and going on the bridge telephoned "Full speed ahead." The engines started almost, immediately, hit before they tool; effect the ship louehcd jfi'.mnd. They must have drifted half a mile.

Counsel: To what do you attribute llio Invoran going ashore?

Witness: To tho fact that there was 100 nr.K'h wind for our anchors.

Captain Johnston, harbourmaster, slated th:<i the 45 fathoms of chain let out, was not enough. Ninety iiuhoms .should have been lisntl.

Edward Donvard. t'tn chief engineer, stated that only a few seconds intervened between the order "Go ahead" and the moving of the engines.

The court will give its decision tomorrow.