STRANDING OF THE HIMTANGI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15433, 20 April 1912, Page 4

STRANDING OF THE HIMTANGI.

NAUTICAL INQUIRY. i CAPTAIN EXONERATED. • (Peb United I'itEsa Association.) WELLINGTON, April 19. ' An inquiry into tho circumstances connected with the stranding of the steamer Himitangi at tho Chatham* on tho 11th i February was held at tho Magistrate's Court this morning. Tho court consisted of Dr M'Arthur, S.M., and Captains Post, and Black. Mr (J. K. Nixon roprcgentcd tho Customs Department, Mr Dalr.icll appeared for the Chatham Islands Fishing Company, and Mr A. Gray for Captain Cowan, master of the nimitangi. Captain James Cowan said tho Himitangi was at anchor at Wailangi on the night of the 11th February. The weather wat calm, and tho place w.w well sheltered. After anchoring Ik> set the usual watch, and left instructions to l>c called if there was any change in the weather. ' About 1.10 a.m. Iw felt tlie ship roll, and ho called the officers and crew, and sent a man to the chain locker to get ready to haul in Hid anchor chain. He ' rang " Stand by " on tho engines, and did bis utmost to keep the vessel from going on tho beach. The vessel touched Imttorn, and therefore the engines wero not of mucb u»e. Ho then tried to get tho vessel's bow on to the bench. Subsc-

qucnlly hn Rave instructions to the chief i engineer to fill the. ballast tanks to prevent tho vessel from going further up the beach. Rcfore the vessel went on the

beach ho gave instructions to call all hands and get the jwsscngcrs ashore. The pasMngcre were landed safely. He put two anchors down with 150 fathoms of rope, hut these topes proved iiisiilliciently strong. He then put down a rope made of fencing wire, hut the gear ho had proved of iu> use. The. usual watch for 12 years past on the Himitangi had been to leave the fireman to keep tho anchor watch. The fireman's duly below was light. He had four hours on and eight hours off. Under the circumstances lw did not think it would ..« liotlcr to have an A.H. to keep watch. Tho quantity of ground tackle was more than ample, and was perfectly satisfactory. Ho attributed the fnct of the gear giving way lo the pin of the shackle carrying away. It was an old shackle, hut it looked all right. To Mr Cray, 'lite cables and gear wero inspected every April by the Marino Superintendent. The ship was on the lieach altogether for alxiul seven weeks. Ho made many attemnls lo get the vciwid off with tho gear available. ■ Archibald M'lntyrc, chief officer of the Himitangi, gave similar evidence to that of (lie previous witness. He noticed nothing the matter with the anchor or cable. Ho shackled the cable on the anclior in Wellington. He thought the pill must havo comci out of tho shackle. Everything was dono that omdd havo been done tinder the circumstances.

To Mr dray: It was the rule on the

Himitangi for tho firemen to keep the anchor watch. This firemen were sternly, capablo men. Thomas Clarkeon Sawyers, wcoud officer, said tho vessel lost llueo anchors a month or two before the stranding. The chain carried away. It had parted a number of limes.

'flic following witnesses wore also' examined:—.!. 11. Prcndoville (chief engineer), H. Iloblyn (A.l). and lamptrimmer), Arthur Calvert (surveyor of rhirn and inspector of John ftymons (fireman), Harold W. Foster (second olliccr in the P. and 0. service, now on holiday), .John M. Samson (manager of the Chatham Islands Fishing Com"any), William. E. Fuller (shipping manager for Mcsrss Levin and Co), .•mil Archibald Walker, (marine surveyor).

In hia evidence Mr Calvert said hi insported the Himitangi on the 6th Mav, 1911, and found the cables in good condition. In his opinion the reason for the breaking of the cable was that there was not sullieicnt cable out.

In tho course, of his address Mr Gray paid ho was authorised by, tho chairman of directors of tho Chatham Islands Fishing: Company to say thai the company still retained confidence in Captain Cowan,

The court, in its judgment, absolved tlio captain, of the Iliinitnngi front any carelessness whatever; in fact it was of opinion that ho was careful in the management of the steamer. Tltc captain's certificate wan therefore returned. The court added that the captain in leaving a lircman to take the anchor watch only followed the practice which had hitherto prevailed on tlio steamer. The two nautical assessors were strongly of the opinion that such a practice should not be allowed in future. Dr M'Ailhur said that the word "watnan" in the act included "fireman." No order was marie •s to costs.