THE PORT AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15887, 27 July 1923, Page 5

THE PORT AUCKLAND.

CAPTAIN’S EVIDENCE. CARGO SATISFACTORILY STOWED. (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 27. Thb inquiry into the damage caused to the steamer Port Auckland, was continued yesterday afternoon. After the Court had viewed the ship evidence was given by master mariners that the captain of the Port Auckland was prudent in returning to port and not negotiating Cape Horn. Captain Brown, who has held the position in charge of the Port Auckland since June Ist., 1923, said that when he joined part of the cargo was already aboard, but he was quite conversant with the stowage of it, and saw no' reason for moving it. From noon on the 26th to noon on the 27th only five knots were registered, as extremely ..heavy weather was being experienced. One particularly heavy sea was shipped about 4 a.m., and at 7.45 a.m. the buckling of the decks was reported by the chief officer and an inspection made. The only explanation offered by witness was that already submitted, viz., that the vessel was suspended on two waves, and was =truck by the swell arising amidships. The stowage of the cargo had nothing to do with the mishap so far as witness could say.

Messages were received from the. S.S. Matakana ahead of the Port Auckland, and the former wirelessed that there was heavy weather ahead. Sir „John Findlay—These messages showed that you would run into bad weather?

Witness —That is the position. Mr Watson, for the owners of the vessel, submitted that the cause of the accident had been due entirely to the shipping of a heavy sea, and that no one was in any way responsible for the . occurrence.

The. Court’s decision will be delivered this afternoon.