WRECK OF THE THE S.S TAIAROA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3605, 20 April 1886, Page 3

WRECK OF THE THE S.S TAIAROA.

(By Temobaph.) ENQUIRY INTO THE WRECK. .••.__. Wellington, April 19. The Taiaroa enquiry was resumed this thorning, when Captain Thomson was further examined. He said that had tho lead been cast at sii p.m: it would have told him the vessel was too close to the shore. Witness difl not give any instructions to the officers to remain under the lee of the ship. AH the ib'oats w,ere well found, and five months before had been inspeoted by the Marine Department, which sent m a favourable report. James West, carpenter, said he woa m cHarge of the watch on Sunday afternoon, and was relieved by the second mate at 4 o'clock. At 6.20 p.m. he saw land about five or six miles off, which he took to be Waipapa Point. The witness was closely examined on this point, but persisted™ the statement. He also said -that expecting a dirty night he wint round and made everything secure. After the ship Btruck the captain told him to let off some rockets of which he had about 14 aboard and a dozen blue lights. He only' let off one rocket and two lights. The chief officer commanded him not to let any more oS as they bunded him. There was a gun on board, but he never saw it on deck all the time he was on board, viz., twenty months. When the captain's boat was trying to maker fast, to the line he" (witness) was dragged head and shoulders into the water, and had to let go the line to whioh the boats .were fastened. It was a new four-inch Manilla rope. There should have been six rowlocks oq board the pinnace, but he supposed they had. been accidentally knocked overbourdi The Taiaroa was of light draught when she left' Wellington. ■ The reason he thought the land he saw at 6.20 p.m. was Waipapa was because it was high and dark, and Waipapa was tho only point he knew which would look at all like that. Although ha had charge of the afternoon watch he did not hold a mate's certificate. Captain Thomson, recalled, said the line by which the boats were made fust was passed, out of the starboard port, near the stern.. Each boat's painter was tied to a line loose, the end of which was floating astern. The boats lay under the stern of tho vessel, which, as the wind was right ahead, was tho leeside of the steamer. ■ John McKay, A.8., said he was called at 7 p.m. on the Sunday to go on the look-out. He could see nothing of land when he wont on the forecastle head. He afterwards went on tho bridge, and there thought he could see the loom of land on the port bow. He spoke to the chief officer about it; and he immediately^cancd the captain, without leaving any orders. Witness went and helped the man at -the wheel to put it over hard' a starboard. The captain put tho telegraph full speed astern, but m a few seconda the vessel struck. West (the carpenter), re-called, said: The Taiaroa, when empty, drew Bft 3in forward and 10ft 3in aft. When loaded she drew lift Bin forward and 13ft 6in aft. Samuel Dalrymple, engineer, deposed that he was on duty when the vessel Btruck, and at 7.12 the telegraph rang " full speed astern." At that time she was going full speed ahead. He nt once answered tho telegraph, and reversed the engines. This took about one minute. After tho engines wero reversed he felt the vessel strike. The engines were going full speed astern fully ten minntcs. The vessel was bumping heavily, and she commenced to make "water. As Boon as he noticed this ho went on deck and asked the captain if it was any use to continue going astern. Ho told him to go on for'ft few minutes longer. Witness found on returning to the engine-room 4ft of water there. Tho captain then ordered tho engines to be stopped. The steamer struck under the engine room or Btoko-holo. ' The Court hero adjourned and resumed at 2 p.m , the following being a continuation of the enquiry : — Captain Gray, of tho_ Government steamer Stella, deposed to knowing the coast betweon Wellington and Lyttelton. Ho had been sailing as master of vessels since 1872. Frequently he had found it necessary to anchor along the coast line betweon Eaikoura and Cape Campbell when landing lighthouse stores, and telegraph material. Witness knew of no curronts setting m along this coast. The usual currents m New Zealand were affected by wind, and were generally along the land. With a southerly wind the current would be along tho land. He could not say whether three or four hours would make a great difference to a current. A heavy swell would have some effect on a vessel," flying light," and would send her m more than a current would. He knew of no current: indo.pendent of the wind. By casting tho lead ten fathoms of water could be got half a mile off shore. Captain Wills, of tho steamer Wakatu, which trades between Wellington and Lyttelton and also other places along the coast, deposed that he had been on that lino eight or nine years. The ourrent along that coast invariably sets to the north, but would tie affected. by a northerly wind, lhe current would not be more than two knots per hour. Currents would be along the land, and would be felt with greater strength closer m shoro than when six or seven miles off. If it was blowing a hard northerly wind which suddenly changed to the southward, there would be very little current. He had known currents of two miles an hour set m m a a northerly direction at tho approach of southerly gales. Captain Bendall, surveyor for the Underwriter*' Association and Lloyd's, deposed to visiting the scene of the wreck on the 13th instant. ■ He went on board the Taiaroa and looked at the bridge compass, which showed her' to be heading nearly S.S.W. The ship; he estimated, wa9 about a quarter of a mile from Waipapa point. The forecastle of the Taiaroa was about 40 feet from the shore at low water ; her stern was about twice as far off. When witness was at the wreck there was a good swell from the south* ward. They had no difficulty m getting on board. There was no danger m landing at the beach inaide the vessel when he was- there. It would, however, not be safe- to land to the northward. . He went over the Blup nnd jnspectod the c'ablrys. : The top berths on the starboard 'side wero dry, and also the transoms. Sirice' witness came to New Zealand (26 years ago) ho had heard that thete wore currents on that part of the coast where the Taiaroa was wrecked, but he had never experienced any strong enough to interfero with the vessel picking up expected headlands. Witness was n,ot m a position to sny whether it was safe to lay m boats alongside of steameru, . nor whether it would have been safe to land with a- henvier'sea than was on when he was. there. The vessel was listing to a. point 8' or 10 degrees, and did not appear to be injured. At tJiii stage Mr Bell, for the Marine Departmontj applied for a fortnight's adjournment, m order to give him time to produce evidence. The court ' granted the request, and adr journed the' enquiry until May 3rd.