WRECK OF CYRENA.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1925, Page 6

WRECK OF CYRENA.

WHAT DID SHE STRIKE? QUESTION OF OBSTRUCTION. EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. The court of inquiry into the wreck of the Cyrena sat until a late hour this evening.. Evidence was given by Captain White, assistant harbourmaster, that during his term of office he had never known the bar to have a depth of only 16ft 6in at high tide. The St. Kilda and the Alexa had struck on the bar years ago when under his command, but had refloated without injury. He was convinced the Cyrena had come in contact with an obstruction. The harbourmaster, recalled, stated that extra soundings were always taken after floods and change of wind. Robert Miller, diver, said that when he went down the second time to endeavour to locate the obstruction he found the grapple was embedded in the sand. He walked over an area of 40 square feet. With the strain frmo the punt above he did not think that the grapple of the punt would be held in the sand alone. Subsequently he examined the grapple. There were no marks of contact with iron. So far as he knew no efforts had been made to find the obstacle since June 6. Mr. Hazard, harbour board engineer, was examined regarding the loss of the dredge Kaione’s ladder. He said the Kaione left about 40 feet of her ladder behind somewhere. It was never located. It weighed about 20 tons. No dragging had been done in the locality where the ladder was lost. It was impossible for it to be shifted by the sea from the place where it dropped. Mr. Brodie said th 6 ladder was dropped well south of the mole and had already been the subject of a marine inquiry. Counsel’s addresses occupied the greater part of to-day’s hearing. The court’s judgment will probably be given on Wednesday.