INQUIRY INTO THE WRECK OF THE P.S. STURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 731, 26 September 1870, Page 2

INQUIRY INTO THE WRECK OF THE P.S. STURT.

An inquiry into the •wreck of the p.s. Sturt was held at the Resident Magistrate's Court, Kaiapoi, on Friday, before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M. Mr J. C. Porter, instructed by the Australasian and Pacific Insurance Companies, and Mr C. E. Dudley, their agent at Kaiapoi, appeared to watch the case on their behalf. The following evidence was heard : — Robert Dyason : lam master of the paddle steamer Sturt. I produce my certificate, No. 201, signed by William Seed, Secretary of Customs. I loft Kaiapoi with my vessel at 12.20 p.m. on the 21st instant ; it was nearly high water at the time. I proceeded down the river a short distance and took the ketch Margaret in tow. On arriving near the bar I saw the Pilot's signal, which denoted that the bar was not fit for vessels. On seeing the signal, which was three balls hoisted at the yard, I let go the ketch, ! rounded the vessel to, and was giving orders to the men to let go the anchor. I saw the pilot waving hia hat, but took no notice until I saw him hoist another ball to the yard. The signal was then four balls, which i means bar safe. I then gave orders to secure

the anchors, and backed the boat so as to get in proper position to take the bar. I proceeded to go over the bar, but when fairly on, I found there was not sufficient water to take the boat over. The sea was striking very heavy on the bar, and slanted the boat's head to the southward. I had been steering by the Signalman's directions, and was in the recognized channel. I had the engines stopped and turned astern ; the boat's head was then canted more to the south. The sea was then striking the vessel heavy aft. After the engines had made a turn or two, the engineer informed me that the starting bar had broken, so I was left to the mercy of the sea and tide. The vessel then drifted along the beach till where she now lies. I came ashore in a boat, and went to Kaiapoi to inform the owners. When she was stranded I gave instructions to land anything that could be got at, as the sea was striking her heavily. The vessel was bound from Kaiapoi to Lyttelton, with a cargo of grain and flour, in all about 1000 sacks. She was not so heavily laden as usual, and was drawing 6 inches less water. We did not load her so heavily lately on account of the low tides. She was drawing 5 feet 2 inches of water. If the bar was perfectly smooth a vessel drawing much more water might go over with safety, but I do not consider the bar safe for any vessel in its present state. I have arrived at that conclusion since the wreck of my vessel. All the surveys required by law have been made on the vessel, and her certificate stood good till some time in December next. It was about 1.20 p.m. when the vessel struck on the bar. The sea stopped my watch at that hour. I believe the vessel was about 1 6 years old by her register. The ship's crew, all told, numbered nine hands. The mate and engineer have a certificate of competency. The vessel lies about a quarter of a mile along the south beach, and is now a total wreck. "The vessel cost about £1000 when she arrived here, which is now about three months since. I consider she was worth more when lost, as a deal of money had been expended on her. A policy was effected upon her in Wellington for £1000 for six months. The cook was heaving the lead on the bar until the rollers compelled him to leave. He reported from cix to seven feet of water before she struck. I brought the Sturt in with the Emerald in tow, about five before the wreck ; she dragged on the bottom while coming over the bar, but the Sturt did not. The bar was then comparatively smooth. The Sturt was built of iron, well found in all gear, and there was no reason to suspect defective construction or imperfect repairs. It was impossible to let go the anchors where she was as the crew would have been all swept off the deck. We hoisted the jib, and tried to hoist the stay-sail, but they were useless. My crew were all perfectly sober at the time. Mr Porter and Mr C. E. Dudley asked this witness questions as to the reason why he took the bar, or whether he considered the bar safe. The witness replied that he only acted according to the signals given by the pilot. It was not for him to say whether it was safe or not. He objected to any solicitor or agent examining him on this occasion ; in fact, he was astonished at it. The present was only an inquiry on behalf of the Government, as to his conduct and efficiency, and had nothing whatever to do with any Insurance Company. He, therefore, did not consider it competent on the part of any solicitor or agent to examine him unless by instructions from the -Government. He did not want to make it appear that he wished to evade any question, but would be very glad to answer anything that the Bench might ask him. His Worship said there was a good deal of reason in what the witness had said, and informed Mr Porter that he might ask any question through the Court. C. Pairweather ; I and my partner are owners of the steamer Sturt. She was bound for Lyttelton with a general cargo of pro- ! duce. The cargo was worth £850, and was insured for that amount. The vessel was insured for £1000 in Wellington. Previous to being insured she was surveyed and passed by Messrs Nancarrow and Captain Johnson, the Government Marine Surveyor in Wellington. She was then on the slip in that place. Captain Dyason, recalled : I produce my certificate for extended river service only, also exemption from pilotage certificate, both of which are now in force. Alfred Larkins : I was mate of the Sturt when she was lost on the Kaiapoi bar. I produce master's certificate of competency signed " Robertson, Secretary Marine Board." (The witness here corroborated the captain's evidence with reference to the signals). When we arrived at the bar, the captain on seeing the signal hoisted, " bar safe for steamer," gave orders to steam ahead full speed. He then sung out " one hand to the lead." The order was obeyed. The cook took it. He is an able seaman and gave the soundings. The sea was too heavy, and the vessel when fairly on the bar seemed to strike all over. Being light forward, she forced her way partly over the bar, and got out into broken water before striking. I cannot say what orders the captain gave to the engineer, as I was at the wheel. 1 heard some one say they " could not get her ahead or astern." I asked the captain what was the matter, but he went partly down the ladder and did not speak to me. The vessel was then knocking about in the break, drifting to the south, and finally went ashore on the beach. William Taynton: I was engineer of the Sturt when she was wrecked on the bar. I was in the engine room when she struck on the bar. The captain then gave me orders to " Give her all I could." I did so. The next order I got was "To go astern." The aea was then breaking over the vessel. I received orders to stop, and then to " Go faster." The starting gear of one of the engines gave way, and I informed the captain of it. He asked me to try and go astern again. I did my best, but could not get the engines over the centre. The captain then came from the bridge, and told me that

I had done all I could, and he could do no more. The Sturt was propelled by a pair of connected engines, so that when the starting gear of one was broken, it would disable the other to a certain extent. In five cases out of ten, the starting gear of one engine being broken, would prevent one engine taking the other over the centres. I did get the other engine over once, but when it was stopped, I was unable to do so a second time. I used the same means as on the former occasion. Andrew Swanson: I am master of the E. U. Cameron. On the 21st inst. my vessel waa lying about half a mile inside the bar. I remember the Sturt coming to the bar on that day. I was on board my own vessel at the time. The steamer had a ketch in tow at the time, but I hailed the ketch, and told them the signal was up for steamers only. They hailed the steamer, and she let go the tow line. The Sturt then went about 100 yards ahead and stopped. I saw another ball hoisted at the yard arm at the Pilot Station. That was the signal for the steamer to go on. She then backed astern to put herself straight for the bar and steamed ahead for the bar. I did not consider there was too heavy a sea on the bar to prevent her going out. Had I been master of the Sturt I would have taken the bar under the same circumstances. I have been master of steamers in New Zealand for six or seven years, and consider that the captain did all he could to prevent the vessel being wrecked. John Petersen : I am a pilot, stationed at the Kaiapoi bar. I remember the steamer Sturt coming down to the bar on the 21st inst., with the ketch Margaret in tow. I ran up the signal that the bar was dangerous for Bailing vessels and only fit for steamers. The Sturt dropped the Margaret behind, and came down near the bar to look at it. I gave the signal to the captain to come on and take the bar. He did so, but when he got out in the break the vessel heaved her head to the northward and appeared to be beyond control. She then went into the shallow water on the north spit. She was washed off, and came astern into the channel again. She then heaved her head to the southward, and went on the south spit. I could not see whether her engines were working or not. I considered the bar perfectly safe for the steamer, as the tide was 18 inches higher than on the previous day. The Sturt and Moahave gone over the bar on former occasions when there was a heavier sea on. Captain Brown, of the Venture, gave evidence as to the state of the bar, and the inquiry terminated.