STRANDING OF THE HIMITANGI.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13396, 20 April 1912, Page 6

STRANDING OF THE HIMITANGI.

THE ENQUIRY OPENS

[Unitsd Press Association.]

Wellington, April 19

Tho Magisterial inquiry into the stranding of the steamer ifimitangi at tho Chatham. Islands, on February 11, opened to-day. Captaiu Cowan, master of the vessel, gave evidence that on the night before tho vessel wont ashore- atWaitatigi, the anchor watch was set early. Next morning ho ielfthu .ship roll, and took steps to prevent her going on tho beach, but unsuccessfully. She- touched bottom and thp> engines wore not of much use then. Watch was kept by tlio fireman, lie did not think it would b« better to have -'vi A.B. on watch. Tho vessel was on tho beach altogether for about seven works. He mado many attempts to get her off. Eventually she was rnfloat?d. A cable gave way owing to the pin of tho shacklo breaking. It was an old shackle but looked all right. Thos. Sawyorfi, second mato, said that the vessel lost three anchors a month or two before. The cable had parted a number of times.

Arthur Calvert. Government Surveyor of Ships, gave- it as his opinion that tho accident occurred becvure thcro was not suffioiont cable- out.

A fvtatomont was nipdo by counsel for tho ca|)tain, that tho <liroctors of the Chatham Islands Fishing Company still retained confidence in Captain Cowan. ,