NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10965, 7 May 1907, Page 1

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

— ♦ (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. An inquiry into the stranding of the steamer Inveran, 2835 tons, on Point Jerningham, Wellington harbor, during a storm on the night of April 24th, was held to-day before Dr McArthur, S.M., Captains Anderson and Gray, nautical assessors, and Mr W. 0. Kempton, engineer assessor Captain Marshall, master of the vessel, deposed that he anchored at 9.40 in 11_fatuoms of water, taking the usual bearings and precautions. At 10.15 he let go another anchor as the vessel was sheering * Twenty minutes later the vessel commenced to drag. He sent word for steam to be put on the engines, and, going on the bridge, telephoned '"Full 'speed ahead. V The engines started almost immediately, but before they took effect the ship touched ground. They must have drifted half a mile. .' [■■- Counsel: To what do you attribute the Inveran going ashore? Witness :. lo the fact that there was too much" wind for our anchors. "■■;■. Captain Johnson, harbormaster, stated that the 45 fathoms of chain let out was not enough. Ninety fathoms should have" been used. •■ ~ .' Edward Dorward- the chief engineer, stated that only a few seconds intervened between" the order "Go ahead" and the . moving of th© engines. ■_..+ ■. . ;'..' The 1 Court gives' its decision • to-morrow.