The Wreck of the Taiaroa.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5608, 3 May 1886, Page 3

The Wreck of the Taiaroa.

THE ENQUIRY RESUMED. [Pin Pbxss Association.] WELLINGTON, Mat 3. The Taiaroa enquiry was resumed at 11 -o'clock this morning :— Constable M' Quarter was examined. He stated that he was a sailor. He was the first passenger who got into the lifeboat. Tney took in four women, and had, he thought, about twenty-five persons in the boat. They lay astern of the steamer, in comparatively smooth water, for about two hours. Could see the loom of the land on the starboard side, but not on the port side. It might have been two hours alter she struck before the captain's boat went adrift. He thought it was about ten o'clock when a sea 6truck the boat, and the painter broke. They rowed book to the warp and made fast again. Half an hour afterwards the boat astern capsized, and some of the occupants got into hia boat, filling it up. The next sta that •une capsized them also. He swam towards the steamer, and then turned and swam down to the other lifeboat, which ' was. drifting bottom up. Tried to climb en Jher, and she righted herself. He and others then clambered in and filled her. The witness went on to describe how he swam ashore in the snme terms as already reported. He also said the chief mate told him in the boat that he thought they were close to Kaikoura. Did not hear the captain make any remark about their position. Considered himself much safer in the boat than on the steamer. Could not j account for the suddennesß with which the sea seemed to get up. Capsized within a very short time of the fjrst sea striking the boat. All three boats went adrift simultaneously the first time. He still adhered to the belief that it was the safest course to take to the boats. He had. been second mate on an ocean going vessel; had been eight years a sailor. There were two oars in his boat, but he «ould not say whether she was fitted with a rudder or not. He was in hia bunk when the Taiaroa struck. The first bump was forward. When the becond lot of people got into the boat Bhe became overloaded. IfhejQ he eventually left the boat and struggled through the surf to the land, there was at least one person left in her, and possibly two. The rest had died or keen washed overboard. Captain Thomson, re-called, said he had made a mistake in describing the deviation of the eompasaes. It was westerly, and not easterly, as he had stated. The course lie steered till five miles past Cape Campbell was south- by- west. Then altered it to south three-quarters west. Had not entered the course for the night im the night order book at the time the steamer btruck, but had marked the course on the regular board for the man at the wheel. Mr Travers put in a certificate from Captain Kennedy, of the Hauroto, stating thaw the Taiaroa passed him on the day of "the wreck one and a-half miles outside his steamer, off Cape Campbell. The Hauroto was five miles from land at the time. As Sergeant Grant was too ill to attend the Court, and Hutton, the other survivor, was stated to be in Westport, after some argument it was decided to adjourn the enquiry until Monday next, at 2 p.m.