THE KAIPARA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 12985, 28 January 1910, Page 5

THE KAIPARA.

HULL BADLY RIPPED. £20,000 Damage. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 27. The Kaipara was towed into the Calliope Dock this morning, the tug Terawhiti lying alongside to keep down the water. An examination shows that she struck the obstruction twice. /For some thirty yards on the starboard side, light on tho bilge, there is a rip mcasuv’ug. in some places 18 inches wide. About amidships right under the floor forward, is another rip extending some 20 feet. Between 40 and 50 new plates wi'! be iequired. The damage is estinhied at ful'v £20,000. '

The nautical inquiry will open to-mor-row morning.

COURT OF INQUJNY. Some Serious Questions. ■ AUCKLAND, January. 28. The Court of inquiry into the standing of tho steamer Kaipara was begun this morning before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., and Captains W. J. Reece and C. F. Post.

In opening the case, the Collector of Customs said that the questions to be submitted were—Whether the stranding was caused by default, negligence, or an error of judgment; was the vessel in an unseaworthy condition by reason of the list to starboard when she commenced the voyage; what efforts were made by the master to ascertain the cause of such a list.

Mr Kettle express'd regret that the Minister of Marine was not represented by Counsel. . ■

The Collector of Customs stated that application was made, but the. Minister had decided that legal representation was not authorised.

Mr Ridings, Collector of Customs, said that the scope of investigation seemed, to challenge the navigation of what had hitherto been regarded as one of the best and safest harbours in the world, and serious questions as to the prudence or lack of prudence in navigating the vessel would he placed before the Court. The Kaipara left her berth at the Railway Wharf shortly before low tide, having a list to starboard, it was stated of six or seven degrees. At the wharf the vessel’s marks indicated that she drew 27ft aft and 26ft forward. After the vessel left the wharf her list increased, and this increased her draught. From the chart marked by the Captain showing the course followed, it would be seen that the master did not avail himselt of the deepest water in mid-channel, but proceeded between the 4-iJ- and fathom marks. The vessel struck something, and two minutes later she sank to the hawse pipes. The existence of a shoal patch of 26 feet of water at low tide was admitted, but it was a question as to whether the ship struck this shoal, and whether the master was justified in bringing the vessel in the vicinity of this shoal. He submitted that the master should have steered the safest course, and not the minimum water in which his vessel could float. Briefly, Captain Cornwall failed to avail himself of the deepest part of the channel in navigating his vessel, whose draught was problematical to a point of danger. Captain Cornwall, examined, said the Kaipara had no list, when travelling from Wellington to Auckland. All the ballast tanks ran right across the ship except numbers 5 and 6, which were independent. He first noticed a list on the 13th inst., and gave specific instructions to the stevedores. On leaving port the vessel listed 6 and 7 degrees. The engineers remarked upon the considerable list. There was an hour and a half of eob tide to run. Knew the list would increase the vessel’s draught, hut did not anticipate and difficulty in getting out of harbour. Could not say if the vessel touched bottom alongside the wharf. The list would increase her draught from 14 to 1G inches.