ADJOURNED ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE SCHOONER MARIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 205, 16 May 1866, Page 2

ADJOURNED ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE SCHOONER MARIA.

Monday, 14th May. (Before G-. O. FitzGorald, Esq., R.M, Edward Patten. Esq., Collector of H.M. Customs, and Captain Mooro, of tho Alma barque, Nautical Assessor.) This inquiry was adjourned from Friday, the eleventh instant, when tho evidenco of Captain John Robertson, tho lato master of the Maria, was taken. James White, being duly sworn, deposed that ho was tho chief officer of tho Maria, and hold a mate's certificate of competency fronr* the Marine Board of New Zealand. > Ho was / at his duty on board tho Maria on the fourth' of May, on whi.^h day tho vessel arrived from Melbourne, and anchored at about 0110 o'clock a.m. in the roadstead. Tho cargo was a general one, and was principally consigned to the owners of tho Maria, Messrs Hall, Finlay, and Co. Between eleven and twclvo o'clock tho Lioness tug came out, but, after lying alongside for somo time, took anothor vessel in tow, and steamed for tho rivor. Sho returned afterwards to the Maria, but again left her to sound the channel, after which, and at two o'clock p.m., sho took her in tow. Beforo starting Captain Turnbull wont on board tho llaria from tho Lioness, and took charge of the former vessel, tho witness taking all orders from him. The day was very fine, tho water smooth, and tho wind light and variable, and tho vessel proceeded in safety across the bar, until sho camo abreast tho flagstaff, when her stern touchod and sho became unmangoable. As far ns tho witness could tell, he bolieved tho ship to bo in tho channel when sho grounded, but ho could not speak positively on the subject, as it was some time sinco ho had seen the channel, and it was a shifting one. The Lioness continued towing for more than an hour, but could not get her off, and at last left hor, at thrco p.m. At about nino o'clock in tho evening a lighter camo down, but tho sea was then too rough, and she would not lio alongside. As tho tido rose tho Maria swung round, and at about eleven o'clock sho got foul of the wreck of tho Maid of the Yarra, and at once sprung a leak, making water very fast, so that at two o'clock on tho morning of the sth, tho water was up to tho beams. Tho same morning lumpers were engaged, und in five tides the whole of tho cargo was discharged. It was all damaged on tho slarboard side, but that on tho port aido was not. The only reason by which this 'witness could account for the vessel stranding was becauso the tide had ebbed, but could not say how much it had fallen. Tho Maria drow 6ft. 9in. water. The lead line was kept constantly going both on board tho Maria and tho Lioness whilo they woro approaching the bar, but tho witness could not hear tho depths given. Reckoning by Norm's epitome, it was high water at half-past 0110 o'clock on tho 4th of May last, but tho witness had not calculated by tho Nautical Almanac. From subsequent observation, the witness considered that the Maria was a little out of tho channel when grounded. Cross-examined {by Mr South— Everything was ready for tho Lioness when she" came alongside to tow tho Maria. Tho order to make the tow rope fast was given by Captain Turnbull. Tho witndss had been tliirty-eMit years at sea, and considered that a vessel ought not to bo brought in aftor obb tido commenced. James Burko being duly sworn, deposed that ho was a seaman, acting as second mate of the Maria, and was steering her when towed in by tho Lioness. Ho took his orders from Captain Turnbull, tho harbor master who was standing on tho Maria's deck house Tho witness saw Captain Turnbull wave his hand to tho pcoplo of tho Lioness, to keen ;hat vessel further off shore. This was after ;hcy had crossed tho bar, and after tho Maria liad grounded. There was a man heaving tho lead on board tho Maria whilo sho was coming In, but tho>itncss could not hear what ho laid. I Captain Whitford, of tho Lioness stoamer ■vas next examined, and sworo that he held L [mater's certiGcatc from tho Melbourno Steam' navigation Board. He recollected towing tho Tana over tho bar on'ilio 4th of May. und or going ashore after sho had crossed it ho Lioness was being steered in mid-chan-el, but after the Maria had crossed tho bar, bsemng that she continued to head for tho each, and did not answer licr port helm and lead up tho river, the Lioness was run as far 3 was safe towards tho spit, in order to pull er round, but sho wont on shore notwithjandinfr Iho witness considered that tho fuso of tac wreck was her not answering hor btai. It. was high water on the 4th of May, at Mi-past two or a quarter to three in tho fternoon, but the witness spoko hero from his mmon experience, and not from scientific serration. Beforo towing the Maria in the <Jness towed m a small vessel, and adopted is course in order to allow timo for the tido rise, that the schooner might bo taken in at ; top of nigh water. Soundings had been cen on board tho Lioness on two previous ps that day, and tho deepest water in tho inncl was found to bo between nino and ten t. Captain Turnbull stated that ho thought to was water enough to bring tho Maria |?ly in, aud the witness wag also of that mon. Beforo tho Maria grounded, and ile sho was m the outer break, tho wituess ' Caplam Turnbull making motions to the a at the wheel to port tho helm, but could see whether it was ported in consequence, fir sho struck tho witness did not think •0 was any clianco of getting tho Maria out sea again. Tho witness was not under tain Turn bull's orders, and did no(, see any

motions made to him to kcop his slcamor inoro to tho south. Cross-exiiniincil by Mr South —Tho witness had had no c-omvi-siition with dipt. Turnbull on tho 4th of I\lay ns to tho timo of high water, nor could ho recollect that ho had any since. Captain Whitford, in support of his opinion (elicited in cross-examination), that it was safe to tow in tho Maria drawing nino fcot of water, when tho deopesfc walor in tho chaunol was between nino' and ton feet. Ho stated that ho had takon tho Lioness into Okarita harbor drawing six feet, when thore were only four feet of water on tho bai\ Tho Court was then adjournod until cloven o'clock * next day, tho magistrate giving notioo that tho enquiry would bo resumed afc two p.m. [In consequonco of tho indisposition of Mr Patten, tho enquiry was not proceeded with yestorday, but was further adjourned until Friday noxfc at noon.] ' We havo been at same troublo to collect tho sfpjlowinn information regarding vessels which have sailed to or from this port, and not been heard of since. Wo shall bo glad to learn any additional facts regarding theso or others: — Bluo Eell, kotch, sailed in May last from Holcitika for the Grey, supposed to havo capsized in tho same galo which blow tho Wiapara ashore; four men. Sangalior, schooner, Capt. Charles Clark, 60 tons, soiled 21st Octobor last from Hokitika for Port Molyneux; four men. Sir Henry Havolock, cutter, 17 tons, sailed from Hokitika for Invorcargill; on board three brothers named Judd. Dove, schooner, 25 tons, sailed six months ago from NOI3OII for llokilika, with cargo and about twenty pnssongors, with four of a crew. Jessie, schooner, Capt. M'Farlano, Bailed from Invorcargill on 20th February for Hokitikn, calling at Stewart's Island on 26th February ; four hands on board. Tho Uruco arrived yesterday from tho Grey, with cargo and a fow passengers for Hokitika. She reports tho Groy bar as being very good. Tho Bruce had merely gono to tho Crroy for coals, which sho received alougsido tho Cobdeu wharf. Yesterday tho schooner Murray was being towed in by tho Woodpecker as Ih'o Bruce left. The ketch Seerot was ontsido waiting to be towed in. Tho Bruco passed tho Pcrsovcro off tho Teromakau, bound for the Grey. Wo understand tho former stoamcr leaves to-day, at 11 a.m., for Okarita.