Accident to the Steamsnip Australia.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4747, 18 July 1883, Page 4

Accident to the Steamsnip Australia.

[Pbb Pbeßb association.] AUCKLAND, July 17. The steamship Australia, in coming to her berth this morning, through bad management ran into the end of the railway wharf, carrying away about 15ft of tho struoture and damaging the schooner Energy. The mail steamer aho sustained Borne injury, and had to be repaired before proceeding this evening. The damoge to tho Railway Wharf was £150. Tho Australia went 15ft into the wharf, and when extricated it was found that ono of her plates on the starboard bow was injured. It was ropaired by Masefield and Co., engineers. An offioial enquiry was held before Mr M'Kellar, Aoting-Oolleotor of Customs. Captain Bannerman, tho fourth officer, chief engineer, and quartermaster were examined, and gave evidence to the effeot that the steamer was allowed to come too close to the wharf bofore any efforts were made on the jrarfc of the pilot to Btop her way. Pilot Murray deposed that he gave orders for tbe steamer to go astern, but instead she went ahead. He again gave orders for full speed astern. She then appeared to tbe pilot to gather quioker way. His reason for running head on to the wharf was to savo running down tho schooners Energy or Thames or the steamer Eotomahsnr* on either side of tho Australis. Tho evidence will bo forwarded to Wellington,