WAIRUNA-MOONAH COLLISION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11251, 16 April 1908, Page 2

WAIRUNA-MOONAH COLLISION.

-. m r (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The inquiry into tho circumstances of the collision between the steamer Wairuna and the ketch Moonah was continued yesterday before Mr C. C. Kettle/ S.M., and Captains Adamson and McKenzie, assessors. Mr Mays appeared for the Customs Department, Mr McVeagh for the Union Steam Ship Company, Mr Hanna for Captain Robinson and the other officers of the Wairuria, and Mr McGregor for Captain De Silva, of the Moonah. John R.. Owen, third officer of the Wiiiruha, gave evidence regarding the collision, and corroborated the statement of the first mate that the scow drifted on to the bow of the steamer. Captain Albert Duder, harbormaster, stated that on the night- of the collision there was a northerly wind. The tide at the point of the collision would run at half flood a little more than a knot and a. half. The Court at this stage postponed further evidence till after lunch, in order to inspect the ketch in the harbor. The trip was made in the Ferry Steamer Company's launch Rum. The Moonah has been partially raised in Shoal Bay between the ketches Havoc and Kauri, and her deck is just showing above water. She was inspected by Mr Kettle and the as-sessors. On the port side of the sunken ketch is a large hole, penetrating as far as the main hatchway, and the splintered timber of the bulk shows where the impact occurred. Both masts have •been snapped off just above the deck. Although such a short time elapsed between the sinking and raising of the vessel, the rigging ropes and a portion of the ketch herself are covered with a rank marine growth, a. species of seaweed. ■On the hearing being resumed, the' evidence of the chief steward of the Wai. runa and the boatswain was taken, and the inquiry adjourned till to-morrow.