COLLISION BETWEEN THE GO-AHEAD AND HUIA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XII, Issue 9351, 21 February 1879, Page 2

COLLISION BETWEEN THE GO-AHEAD AND HUIA.

The enquiry into ttie collision between the' steamers Go- Ahead and Huia was continued at the Resident Magistrate's ; Conrt, Wellington, on Tuesday afternoon 1 , before T. A. Mansford, JKsq., 8.M., and Captains Eraser and Roberts, Nautical Assessors. - . The following evidence was taken :—: — George Hurthing swopi,. deposed as follows : I am, mate of j;he ;Go-Ahead, and, hold a certificate of competency as mate. I was on boardthe | steamer on the 2nd. I was below from 12vto 4. I came on deck at 3 a.m., and went on to the bridge, and saw a' steamer with :t a green light and masthead light. She was about two lengths away from us at this time. Our vessel had stopped, and the/ engines were going astern. The Go-Ahead had no sternway. Shortly,, after I ,c s ame on deck the fluia strucktiß jajfont Bfti -abaftthe stem, oh' the port bow. The Huia had considerable way on her, and was coming across our bows when I came on deck. I called to thoße on board the Haia to ascertain what damage was done. ; The' Huia stopped when she was about 150 yds from us.

By Mr Quick : Itjwas immediately after I came on deck tha£, ihe/poljlision occurred.;' perhaps half a mmufe.* •

William Johnston, an A B on board the Go- Ahead, "deposed as follows ; I was at the wheel at the time of the collision. I was steering south and west, and did not alter it until I was told to port at about half-past 3. The second, ,mate gave me orders. The wheel is on the bridge. I saw a steamer ahead fifteen minutes before I ported. She was about! haK a* point off the starboard helm: I heard the order f* stop her " given on board our vessel. We were coing' astern at the time of the collision. The Huia had good headway at the time.

By Mr Bell : I saw the masthead of the Haia some time before I saw the side lights, from the time I saw. the three lights until I got the order to port Vvas only'a few minutes. The Go-Ahead answered her helm. She was on the starboard tack, the wind from the south-west. I put the helm bard aport before the Go-Ahead was struck.

By Mr Quick : I cannot say how long ifc was from the time I. ported the helm until loosing sight of the Huia's lights. Charles Pope, first mate of the Huia, deposed an follows : I hold a certificate of competency. I was on board the Huia at the time of the collision, I was on deck immediately after the collision. I did not see anything mys,elf. She vessel was not stopped When I came 'on deck. I heard Capt. Holmes sing out to the Go-Ahead, but could not tell what he said. :> , , Oscar Jardine, an A.B. on the Huia, deposed as follows : I was the look-out man on board the Huia at the time of the collision. The first light I saw was the masthead light and the green light. Our whistle sounded shortly after, and we altered our course. I heard our captain sing out to the other vessel * Are you mad, or drunk.' The remainder of the evidence given by this witness was corroborative of that given by Capt. Holmes. This was all the evidence, and the assessors reserved judgment until "Wednesday morning . The Judgment was forwarned by wire,and appeared in our last issue.