THE STRANDING OF THE STEAMER HAWEA AT WAITARA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2727, 20 June 1883, Page 2

THE STRANDING OF THE STEAMER HAWEA AT WAITARA.

(By Telegraph.) Result of the Enquiry. Dcnedin, Jane 10. Judgment m the enquiry into the stranding 1 of the steamoi- Hawea at "Waitara river was given to-day. The Residont Magistrate delivered the following judgment: — "I find that Francis Holmes, the master of the Hawea, was guilty of great carelessness : — (lst) In giving a courso S. i K. by both tho standard and the steering compasses, without having previously compared tho two compassea, m which caae ho would havo ascertained that the steering compass indicated about a quarter of a point more to tho south than the vessel's, so being much nearer the shore by steering S. i E. (2nd) That on observing the land on tho starboard bow he did not examine and lay off the position of tho vessel on tho chart. (3rd) That when he saw a red light ho did not examine the log to ascertain the distance the vessol had run, or the engine-room revolution for the same purpose, but altered the courso more m shore without having first ascertained the position of tho vessel, through which means the vessel's course was directed towards tho Waitara river, (-tth) That he showed gross neglect and inattention to his duties m being absent from the deck after the course was alterod m shore to S.E. by S., and especially after being twico warned by the second officer that he was close m shore. That the chief officer, George Dnnn Alexander, is guilty of carelessness m that after ascertaining, as he said that he did, at 9 o'clock p.m. of the Bth May that the compass tho ship was being steered by differed by about a quarter of a point from the standard compass, and therefore) was taking the vessel further inshore than tho proper course, he did not immediately make the satno known to the master, whose order book gave the same course by both compasses, and, further, that ho did not report to tho second mate the difference he had observed m the compasses. That the second officer, Lewis Cameron Noble, although evidently anxious that the vessel should be steered a safe course, showed a want of promptitude m that ho did not Btop the vessel's engines and port the holm when he found the vessel was m dangerous proximity to the land. I, snbjoct to confirmation by His Excellency the Governor, suspend the master's certificate of competency of Francis Holmes for four calendar months (the term being made less than it otherwise would have been m consequence of his previous good character aa a careful navigator). The chief officer, George Dunn Alexander, is deserving of a severe reprimand for his carelessness. As regards the second officer, Lowi3 Cameron Noble, I am of opinion that if he had had access to tho charts and sailing directions it is probable that the vessel would have been kept ont of danger, a matter which it is highly advisable should m future be attended to by the owners of the vessel." Captains Scott and Thomson, Nautical Assessors, concurred m the finding. Mr Smith, counsel for the captain said : I would ask you to take a note of the point I have raised, that there is no proof of damage to the vessel. On the contrary, the only evidence on the question of damage is that there was none. Mr Carew: We understand from the oaao that there was no evidence of perceptible damage. I will be very glad to send to the Minister for Marino, along with the evidence and finding, your objection m tho form of a protest or letter. Mr Hackworth, Collector of Customs, applied for costs. Mr Carew : "We will not make any order as to costs. If we had done so, we would have made the order again3t the Company, for the reason that wo think there ought to havo been better arrangements on board the vessel for the second mate to have had access to the charts. The first and second mates' certificates wore then ordered to be returned.