Nautical Enquiry.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6028, 3 October 1889, Page 2

Nautical Enquiry.

THE WRECK OB' THU KORAN UI. (8t Telegsaph.) WELLINGTON. Oct, 2, The enquiry into the wreck of the Eoranui was held to-day. Mr Gully, who appeared for the Customs, ashed the Court to consider generally the question of the navigation of the French Pass, and whether, on such a night as that on which the Koranni was wrecked, it would be advisable to avoid going through the Pass. The evidence adduced was almost the same as the particulars published at the time of the accident.

Captain Hill, replying to a question, said that there was as much danger in going round D’ Orville Island as through the pass, owing to the absence of a light oh Stephen’s Island, and that the currents were strong. Witness, in answer to Mr Gully,, admitted that it was evident that if a full complement of passengers had been on board they could not have teen accommodated in the boats. : '

Mr Gully pointed out that; the boat accommodation’ ■ was regulated according to the tonnage instead of depending upon the number of passengers that the vessel accommodated. On the basis of tonnage the Koranni had more than the number of cubic feet of space required by the Merchant Shipping Act. It was remarkabje that ; the vessel was licensed to convey more passengers than the boats she was required to cury could hold. The amount of boat space that she was required to carry was 573 cubic feet, and she generally had 623 feet. Still the boat accommodation was entirely inadequate. The court found that Captain Hill bad erred in judgment in the course ho steered after sighting the light. After the vessel struck everything seemed .to hare been well and properly done for saving the lives of the passengers and crew.: The vessel appeared to have been well found in every way and to have had her proper complement of boats, but if she had had the full number of passengers she was licensed to carry, a largo number must necessarily have lost their lives for want of boats to take them in. The court, therefore, ordered that Captain Sill’s certificate be suspended for two months, and that he pay the costs of the enquiry amounting to seven guineas. The court thought the captain’s conduct, after the vessel struck, worthy of all praise. THE QUESTION OF RAISING THE VESSEL. ■■■ <<’. The Underwriters’ Association and Union S.S. Company are considering the desirableness of raising the Koranui, and the sale has been postponed. Captain Bendall, marine surveyor, with Captain Daniels, foreman shipwright of the Union Company, with two divers leave to-night to make a thorough inspection of the steamer.