STRANDING OF THE KAITOA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16610, 5 February 1916, Page 8

STRANDING OF THE KAITOA

NAUTICAL INQUIRY, CAPTAIN TO PAY COSTS. (Pee United Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, February 4. An inquiry into tho stranding of the Kaitoa near Cape Terawhiti on Sunday night was opened before Mr Riddell, S.M., Captains Lambert and Gray. Captain Stevens said he had obtained a special permit to make a daylight passage with 62 passengers. Ho was on the bridge all tho time after leaving Jackson's Head, when the tide was ebbing. He shaped his usual course, but took no cross-bearings to check his position. Before entering the fog there was no deviation of the compass. The fog signals were sounded all the time. When he saw a dark object half a mile ahead he ported his helm, stopped one engine and then the other. A minuto or two later the •vessel touched. He reckoned he was then two and a-half to three miles from Terawhiti. He took no soundings. He had no appliances to do so. Ho did not use the patent log, as he did not believe in it in tne strait, where tho tide was so strong. The passengers were landed safely, in case bad weather come on, but subsequently reembarked. The vessel came off quite easily about two hours later. After an hour's retirement the court found: —(1), That the stranding was primarily caused by the thick mist which prevented the master from seeing the land and correcting his course; (2). tho stranding and damage to the ship were caused through the default of th« master m not using the log in order to verify the distance run from the Brothers Island to Cape Terawhiti, and trusting during 1 the fog, when it was impossible to see the land, to the ebb tide setting the ship sufficiently southward to clear Terawhiti, although this had been his exDcricnca on former trips. The court waa of opinion that the, captain should pay the costs of tho inquiry. EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. (Pbb UvtTirn Pbksb Association.* WELLINGTON, February 4. The Komata was placed on the slip tonight, and it was found that she was damaged in several places along about 40ft of the bottom forward, chiefly on the starboard side. Tho repairs will take about a fortnight.