THE LOSS OF THE MATAURA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6284, 15 September 1898, Page 2

THE LOSS OF THE MATAURA.

Mr R. H. B. Marsham, with Captains Ronaldson and Parfitt, as assessors, resumed on Saturday the Board of Trade inquiry into the loss of the New Zealand' Shipping Company's steamer Mataura on Jan. 12,. adjourned from May last, for the return \ to England of the thief engineer. Ab the ■wreck occurred more than six months ago,\ . if may "be- well to recite briefly *the 'mam ; j features of the mishap.fvTbe^Jrfataura left Wellington- on Dec. 22, for London. When, five days out from pert her main pump broke down, but the engineer rigged up substitutory gear, and the vessel made Judge Islands on Jan. 12, having been set south of her course. Captain Millward, understanding that the engineer wished the j engines stopped for examination, determined to run between the northernmost of the Apostles Rocks and the mainland on his way northward to the Straits of Magellan, he having been set to the south and east by wind and current. In making this course he ran upon a rock which iB not on the chart. The vessel filled, but was skilfully beached in an unknown cove ion Desolation Island. The captain sailed ; in one of the beats to Sandy Point, and 1 crew and passengers were all similarly I saved. After examining the witnesses, the J Court, in answer to the questions of the Bcand! of Trade, found that the vessel was well supplied with compasses, that Captain ,M,illward ascertained the deviations from time to time, and that he was justified in the circumstances to attempt to pass between the rock and the mainland. A good • look-out was kept, and the master was not j in default, the rock upon which he struck ■ not being marked in the Admiralty chart.