NAUTICAL INQUIRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19050, 1 July 1924, Page 5

NAUTICAL INQUIRY

ACCIDENT TO THE PAKEHA. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 30. When moving to her berth in the Bluff harbour on June 3, the Shaw Savill liner Pakeha touched and damaged one of her plates. A nautical inquiry was opened today, the Court consisting of Mr Riddell, S.M., and Captains F. W. Barren and J. Bollons. It was pointed out that the Bluff Harbour Board was unrepresented at the hearing, but counsel for the Shaw Savill Company objected to the proceedings being adjourned on this account. The vessel was already about fourteen days late, and it was hoped she would be able to sail to-morrow. The chairman said the inquiry should have been held earlier. However, the taking of evidence would be proceeded with, and in the meantime the Bluff Harbour Board might be asked if it desired to be represented. Capt. William Clifton Mogg, captain of the Pakeha, said the steamer arrived at the Bluff at 5.30 a.m. on June 2, drawing 20ft. 9in. forward and 21ft. Sin. aft. The pilot came aboard and suggested anchoring, but witness thought this hardly worth while in view of the fact that it was only necessary to wait until 7 a.m. They drifted until about 7.11, when the boat was headed for the south channel. It was almost ebb tide. At 7.56 both engines were slowed, and a minute later, when the ship had altered her course on to the last line of beacons, she was felt to shake. Witness said to the pilot: “She has struck,” but he replied: “It is impossible; she is right in line with the beacons.” Witness verified this by sending the third officer to get the bearing. When the vessel struck, witness experienced a grinding sensation, and concluded that she passed over a rock. Witness reported the matter to the harbour-mas-ter. The vessel began to make water at the rate of six inches per hour. A diver went down and discovered a fracture of one of the plates under No. 3 hold.

The chief officer, Alexander Black, who was on duty at the forecastle head at the time, said that he did not notice any unusual happening. Alfred Edward Cooper, second engineer, who was on duty in the engine room, said he also failed to experience anything unusual. At this stage Mr Prenderville read a telegram from the Bluff Harbour Board protesting against the inquiry being held without sufficient notice to enable counsel and witnesses from the Bluff to attend. It pointed out that no satisfactory instructions could be given to counsel on the spur of the moment. The board strongly urged that in justice to the board the inquiry should be adjourned to the Bluff, where the evidence of the pilot staff could be taken.

Mr Riddell said it was impossible to deal with the matter at a sitting. He thought that the case should be adjourned until the ship came back. It was only proper that the Bluff Harbour Board should be represented. Roy Kingsley Banderford, second officer, who assisted in taking soundings in the neighbourhood of the occurrence, said they made investigations and discovered a rock at a depth of less than 24ft. 6in. When a diver went down shortly afterwards, however, he could not locate it, probably owing to the fact that the water was anything but clear.

After hearing further evidence, it was decided to adjourn the hearing sine die in order to give the Bluff Harbour Board a chance to produce witnesses and state a case from their standpoint.