STRANDING OF THE HIMITANGI.

Otago Witness, Issue 3032, 24 April 1912, Page 27

STRANDING OF THE HIMITANGI.

CAPTAIN EXONERATED. WELLINGTON, April 19. An inquiry into the circumstances oon« nected with the stranding of the steamer Himitangi at the Chathams on the 11th February was held at the Magistrate's Court this morning. The court consisted of Dr M'Arthur, S.M., and Captain* Post and Black. Mr C. E. Nixon represented the Customs Department, Mr Dalziell appeared for the Chatham Islands Fishing Company, and Mr A. Gray for Captain Cowan, master of the Himitangi. Captain James Cowan said the Himitangi was at anchor at Waitangi on the night of the 11th February. The weather was calm, and the place was well sheltered. After anchoring he set the usual watch, and left instructions to be called if there was any change in the weather. About 4.40 a.m. lie felt the ship roll, and he called the officers and crew, and sent a man to the chain locker to get ready to haul in the anchor chain. He rang " Stand by" on the engines, and did Iris utmost to keep the vessel from going on the beach. The vessel touched bottom, and therefore the engines were not of much use. He then tried to get the vessel's bow on to the beach. Subsequently he gave instructions to the chief engineer to fill the ballast tanks to prevent the vessel from going further up the beach. Before the vessel went on the beach he gave instructions to call all hands and get the passengers ashore. The passengers were landed safely. He put two anchors down with 150 fathoms of rope, but these ropes proved insufficiently strong. He then put down a rope made of fencing wire, but the gear he had proved of no use. *The usual watoh for 12 years past on the Himitangi had been to leave the fireman to keep the anchor watch. The fireman's duty below was light. He had four hours on and eight hour 3 off. Under the circumstances be did not think it would <m better to have an A.B. to keep watch. The quantity of ground tackle was more than ample, and was perfectly satisfactory. He attributed the fact of the gear giving way to the pin of the shackle carrying away. It was an old shackle, but it looked all right. To Mi- Gray: The cables and gear were inspected every April by the Marine Superintendent. The ship was on the beach altogether for about seven weeks. He made many attemnts to get the vessel off with the gear available. A good deal of evidence having been given by various witnesses, The court, in its judgment, absolved the captain of the Himitangi from any carelessness whatever; in fact it was of opinion that he was careful in the management of the steamer. The captain's certificate was therefore returned. The court added that the captain in leaving a fireman to take the anchor watch only followed the practice which had hitherto prevailed on the steamer. The two nautical assessors were strongly of the opinion that such a practice should not be allowed in future. Dr M'Arthur said that the word " seaman " in the act included "fireman." No order was made as to costs.