WAIRUNA-MOONAH COLLISION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11249, 14 April 1908, Page 2

WAIRUNA-MOONAH COLLISION.

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY,

(Per Press Association.):, Y AUCKLAND, this day

The marine inquiry ' into the circumstances, of the collision between the steamer Wairuna and the ketch Moonah ;>yas continued yesterday'- before Mr C.Y C. Kettle, S.M.', and Captains Adamson .and Mackenzie, assessors. Mr Mays appeared for the Customs Department, Mr-.Mc-Yeagh for the Union Steam Snip OoiPr pany,! Mr Hannah for Captain Robinson and the other officers of the Wairuha, and Mr McGregor for Captain De Silya, of the Mobnab. V

Captain De Silva, continuing his evidence, described how. he and Sterling sustained their injuries, and Smith's disappearance. Smith, could not swim, r as far as he knew. Y Mr Mays : Have you ever been approached by the harbormaster on the subject of going to sea without having your ship properly manned? Witness : Oh, yes.

Mr Kettle said he did not think that question could be gone into.

. Mr Mays intimated to the Court that a prosecution would probably follow. Mr Kettle: Captain Robinson 6ays he gave two short sharp blasts of his whistle before the collision?

j Witness : I only heard one. My heari ing is pretty good. | Captain' Robinsonj recalled, said he, set ihis course by the compass when west of 1 the Iris. This was the usual thing to do, and the man at the wheel must be given something to steer by. Wm. Sterling, an A.B. on the ketch during the voyage, described the vessel's progress to opposite the Iris, where •the collision! took place. He heard orie blast of the steamers whistle when she was about three of her own lengths distant. \Vhen the smash occurred he was aloft, and" when the mast gave way, he jumped for the steamer's rail. •' ""Witness thought he, saw the Wairuna's Xgreett light.,. ; Her musthead arid ..port lights, ■'iv-filre plainly Visible. The- 'steamer, isfte thought, was ' travelling iit seven kriiots when she struck the ketch; and -she buried her nose up to the smaller vessel's centre-board. .

Mr Kettle : We should have heard the evidence of the quartermaster of- the Iris on watch, who should have a note of the occurrence." He should have been secured before the cable steamer left for Brisbane. .-■ Y Y

Mr Hannah : There was nothing in the log, of the Iris.

• Mr Mays : The quartermaster of the Irish heard no whistles. His evidence absolutely negatives that of the others. Mr Kettle : Well, he should be;; here to say so. The case may hinge oiXthe question of the whistles. We will "liave to adjourn the inquiry until we hear liis version. The men ori the Irish; should be able to give this evidence. If Ythey cannot, then they huye not been keeping a proper watch.

T'he inquiry was adjourned until this morning.