THE TAUPQ ENQUIRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 670, 7 April 1879, Page 2

THE TAUPQ ENQUIRY.

Since the enquiry was held to ascertain the cause of the Taupo's disaster, it has been clearly discovered that no fault can be laid tq the /charge of Gaptain Gromarty ; and that his certificate should be at once returned there can be no manner of doubt whatever.; ■: -It £» now known that one of the, buoys which was intended to direct & ship clear through the channel had shifted. An examination of its bearings has proved this to be the case. It even appears, that the fact of this buoy having shifjbed and of the certainty, in its new position, of its leading ships to destruction, was reported to the Chiof of the Marine Office in Wellington^ Captain Johnston is the Under-Secretary, and should know, but he did - not mention the circumstance during the sitting, of $he Court* of which he was a member ; but whether the Under-Secretary was awairf br nfoi aware of this, the, buoy had shifted, and no notice had been given by the pilot br harbor-master- and therefore X3tfptanr Croma,rty;, stands freed, from blame. Either the' Marine Department were responsible for the catastrophe; in consequence of the ill position of the mark to guide ships, or the master of the Taupo was responsible for disregarding instructions, , ,Xet we find a representative of this Department, one possible delinquent, sitting on the Court to try the other. What would he have said if Captain Croinarty had been the Court trying him for neglect to replace a drifted buoy, which, in the- cap'faui's opinion, had caused the loss of his 'ship? Since the catastrophe, which, happened to the Taupo, the buoys have been s r& placed, and secured to their proper-hold-ing ground. If this had been done at the time the shifting occurred thd Taupo would now have been among living steamers afloat,. . ..