ENQUIRY INTO THE WRECK OF THE EGMONT.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 107, 19 April 1876, Page 2

ENQUIRY INTO THE WRECK OF THE EGMONT.

The preliminary enquiry into the loss of the Egmont was held yesterday afternoon, before Major Turner H.M., and Captain Odgers, acting as Nautical Assessor. Before evidence was taken, _ Major Turner said that this was merely preliminary enquiry, to prevent the expense of the pilot going down to Wanganui, which under present circumstances would probably be unnecessary. Mr Worm would there hold the final investigation. Arthur Irvine deposed : I am a master mariner, and late master of the screw steamer Egmont. About 11.40. a.m. on Thursday, the 13th instant, wo left the wharf for Wanganui and Wellington, and steamed down towards the Hoads. Coming towards the boulder bank, the channel was very narrow and crooked. The vessel did not answer her helm sufficiently quick to come round, in consequence of which wc got too far south, when she struck- aft, forged ahead about three times her own length,- and stuck there. The engineer then reported the engine room nearly full of wateiyand the rudder and after stern post was gone. Her head commenced to fall off, broadside on, when I put head sail on her, and brought her how to the beach. I told the engineer to blow all the steam out of the boiler, in case of collapse That is all I know of tlm matter The time of high water was 12.50. This took place some minutes before high water. By the Pilot: She struck about a qnarterpast.l2. I made my high water for that day about 1-2,50 p.m. We were nearly

abreast of the beitcon when she struck. She struck aft first; about the inner beacon oh the edge of the boulder bank. We Wore south of the channel when we struck. There was not too much sea on at the time for the steamer to go out. With the Egmont’s power, I could have gone over a heavier sea than was on, on the day in question. I have gone out with a lower lido, with less water than on the day in question, with the same draught. The vessel was drawing sft. 4 inches aft on the day. When I came in on the previous day the boat was drawing oft. 11 inches. There was at that time a heavy sea on, and water broke over the vessel. This was on the 12th.

In reply to the Court, the pilot said that they used the same bails as usual throughout the Colony, but that vessels could not, as the semaphore was placed, see it working. The bluffs were from ( Joft. to 100 ft. high, and no directions for entrance or departure, could be seen by vessels. Major Turner observed that he hud represented the absurdity of the present station two or three times to the Government without eifeet. They would probably do something wlien a few more shipwrecks took place. Till then, there would be no change. Charles Pope was the next witness, and said ; I am a mariner, and mate of the steamer Egmont. [The witness then gave evidence similar to that of the previous witness, as to the disaster, generally, and also attributed it to the vessel refusing to answer her helm cpdek enough]. In reply to tho pilot, the witness said that, if the vessel would have answered her helm, there would have been no difficulty in her crossing the bar with the sea that was on at the time. Pilot Wood said he had asked these questions, solely to show that there was plenty of water for her to .cross tiro bar, and no sea to prevent her from doing so. Alfred Wood was then sworn, and said : 1 am harbour-master and pilot at this station. At 11.30 a.m. on the 13th, I gave the signals to the Egmont to take the bar. She came down about 12.15 p.m., and she struck about that time. She was all right till rounding the north spit, where the channel is veiy narrow at this season of the year. I signalled her to keep to the northward, hut she did nut soem to answer her helm quick enough to round the north spit, and, the set at that time of the tide, sotting rigid to the southward across the boulder bank, broadside on to the vessel, had the effect of carrying her to the edge of the boulder bank, a little to the west of j,ho inner beacon. She forged along the boulder bank, struck, and sustained the injury that caused the wreck. In reply to Captain Irvine, witness said that ho made the time of high water on that day 12.50 pan. Mr W. Dale, as agent for the National Insurance Company, attended, and said that he especially wished the evidence of the pilot to be taken, as showing that the set of tho current caused the misfortune, and this was agreed to. Captain (Algers asked Captain Irvine if in liis (Captain Irvine’s) opinion, lie thought there was any blame attached to the pilot. Captain Irvine said ho did not attach any blame whatever to the pilot. This closed the enquiry, the result of which will bo forwarded to head-quarters.

INQUEST ON THK LATK FIRK. Ykstkiiday, an inquiry into the origin of the fire at Mr McGuire’s store on Sunday last, was 'held before Major Turner U..M., and the following jury Messrs_ W. Williams (i’oreman), Adams, O’Sullivan, Collins, Gordon, Fish, Pakenham, Ale Coy, Keys, I’row. Dillon, and Torrey. The first witness called was Sarah Krskine, who deposed : —I am the wife of: Hubert Krskine, of Carlyle. About half-past 5 on the morning of Sunday last, the- 1 Gib hist., I heard some one call out “ fire." I got up and saw Air McGuire’s store on fire. I called my husband who went across and called Air ALcGuuc, and then wont down and called the hotel people. I did not see any one when I looked out of the window, and do not know who it was that called out fnc Hist. By the foreman : I did not know the voice. The first I saw on the ground was Captain Gundry. I did not see any of Mr AlcGnire’s people for half an hour afterwards, and do not know whether they were in bed. When I saw it first, there was more smoke to bo scon then fiie, and it was in the side store. Air AlcGnire was the first I saw of his people. lie might have been there before I saw him. I did not sec Mr Rose till after I saw Air McGuire. He was then dressed. I could not sav whether the voice 1 first lieaid call fire, was that of a man or woman. It was just daybreak, and light enough for me to have seen any one who was about. There were many people aboim when I first saw Mr McGuire, and at that time he was partly dressed, having trousers and coat on.

Robert Erskine, a livery stable-keeper, husband of the previous witness, corroborated her evidence, in first, particulars, and added ; When I went to Mr McGuire’s, I saw him and James Connolly. Mr McGuire was coming from the bade. He had nothing on but his shirt, and James Connolly was the same. The fire was in the lean-to in the lower part. There was a long thin blaze running up the outside of the wall. The fire came from the inside of the lean-to, running up the main building. The first I saw were Mr McGuire and James Connolly : By the Jury :—T could not say who called out fi'-e. I did not hear any one, but my wife woke me up. I heard Mr McGuire calling to James Connolly “ come out, come out.” I did not see any one before T gave the alarm. When I saw Mr McGuire first, he was coming from the back, but this was not for two minutes after I went over. I then went over to the Hotel and called the people there. James Connolly deposed : —I am assistant storekeeper to Mr McGuire. On Sunday morning, a little before b o’clock I heard a noise of something falling. I lay still for a few seconds, and heard it again. I got up to strike a light, when I found the room was full cf smoko. I went into the large room to go down stairs, when I saw a blaze a little from' the top of the stairs. I went back into my bedroom, and opened the window, and called out fire twice. I then called to Mr McGuire to come out. I told him from the window that the store was on fire, and to get me a rope to let me down. He

went away to get the rope, and during that time I got out on to the sill, caught hold of the side of the window reached the corner of the stove, and pulled myself on to the lean-to. 1 then called Mr McGuire to come ami help me downturn! lie did so. We tried to open the back Store,' but tbe smoke was too thick, and we Could not do it. We tried to force another door* but it would not give way. I think the lire commenced in the side store. There might have been a few loose matches (a box or two). There was not a case of matches, or any quantity. There were porter eases with straw in them, but the loose straw had been cleaned out; There was no kerosene in the store. It was usual for some one to go round the store at night to see tint all was safe. I went round that night. I gave the alarm first. The night was very still, and Mrs Erskino could easily have heard me, as it was only across the street. Mr McGuire had the key of the back store. He was up before I saw Mr Erskino. I did not hear Mr Erskino call fire. There was no lire in the main store, when I and Mr McGuire went in, neither was there in the back store. The fire had broken through the side store, and was running up the main building. I saw the lire upstairs first. There was nothing inflammable there. The store was closed at 10 o’clock on Saturday night, I put out the lights. I had been in the side store that evening with a caudle. When I locked tbe front door, no one was in the store, and I then went down home for an hour; when I came back I went to bed. I heard no one in tbe store after that. The store was closed in the usual way. There were lots of rats in the store, and I think r tliley must have been eating some loose matches, scattered cm the lloor. Mr McGuire came out quickly for I called out fire very loudly, and then called him by name. I saw no one smoking there or throw away lighted cigars. There was some paint oil in the store. The side store was locked outside with a padlock, and bolted inside.

William Rose was the next witness. His evidence merely corroborated that of the previous witness, and is unnecessary to repeat. Mr Finnerty gave further evidence, to the effect that the fire could not have originated in the side store, as supposed by previous witnesses. His opinion was that the lire originated cither, on the upper floor, or on the ground floor of the irain store. He gave as his most confident opinion that the lire did not originate in the side store. Mr McGuire was next called. He said— I was aroused hy James Connolly calling out “ lire, lire.” He asked me to get him a rope to get down, but I could not procure one, when I went for the key of the back door, and opened it for him to get out that way. 1 heard him calling from the lean-to, to where he had somehow got, to helo him down. 1 told him to jump, which lie did. I caught him in my arms, and we both fell. [The following evidence was exactly corroborative of that given hy Conolly, relative to attempting to open the doors, &c.] I then ordered the shutters to be taken down and the windows to be broken in. The door was broken in directly afterwards, and I went into the main store to save what goods were possible, and others assisted in the work. 1 have nothing else to say, but will be glad to answer any questions, Isy the jury : I saw fire in the main store when we went in, and it might have been saved had one or two been there to help me. The fire originated in the main store, and on a shelf in it. There were two cases of tin matches, and one of vestas in paper boxes on the shelf where the tire originated, if a weight had fallen on the matches they might have been ignited. I value tho stock at £3,000 without freight. 1 have not taken stock lately, and would not swear to £IOO or so cither way. The building I valued at £OOO. lam insured on the building £4OO, and on stock £3OO. I can give no reason for the fire, but rats were, constantly in the habit of; frequenting the shelf where 1 believe the fire commenced. The paper boxes were kept (here. There were no spirits there excepting in bottle, no kerosene, naptha, or anything worse than matches. The shelves, as they go down, are wider, but I do not see that anything falling from an upper shelf could fall on the matches. Ido not know what time Connolly came back that night, but be is too afraid of fire to have been tho causa of it, and is too careful. He could not possibly, without a ladder, hay.e_.gone to where the fire originated. The distance from where Connolly got out of the window to the corner of the house would be, I think, about five feet, where he jumped was about ten. When I went to the main store first, two or three men at that time acting judiciously could have saved it. It was then a simple bit of a hole. There was nothing that could have occasioned it but the matches. Connelly was at the extreme end next my house. The Magistrate then called upon the jurv to consult and give their opinion as to how the fire originated. He told them' he could add nothing to the evidence, but it was for them on that evidence to deliver their verdict.

The jury then retired, and after a very short retirement, gave in the following verdict ; —“ That Mr McGuire’s store was burnt down on the morning of the 16th of April, 1876, but there is no evidence to show the origin of the fire.”