NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15340, 1 October 1917, Page 7

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

WRECK OP SCOW EUNICE. EVIDENCE OF THE CAPTAIN. A Magisterial inquiry "was held today into the wreck of the auxiliary scow Eunice. The Court consisted of Mr J. G. LyHewitt, S.M., and Captain George Lambert and Captain J. Black, both of Wellington, acted as naiiticai assessors. ' '■ , ' Mr G. Marshall, appeared for the Marine Department, Mr Treadwell tor the. Harbour Board, Mr C. P. Biown for the -owners of the vessel" (the New Zealand" Refrigerating Company),.and Mr Watt for Captain Holm. Captain J. Holm, master of the Eunice, said that this was his first trip to Wanganui in charge of the scow. He had been trading to the port at irregular Intervals for the past 10 years as mate., * The Eunice was in good condition, and well found. " The two oil engines on board were of 60 h.p. each, and the vessel had a little more than her complement of men. There was a certificate mate, an A.B. acting as second mate, four A.B.'s and an 0.5., an engineer, and a cook. 'He was signalled from the Heads to "Stand in and take the bar." There was a strong norh-west wind, carving at times,, with passing, rain showers. Ten minutes prior to getting the signals the Eunice had passed through a heavy shower, and in that particular shower the wind, was westerly. Three or four miles off the coast the sea was fairly heavy. As the vessel approached the bar the sea was what was termed moderate. He had had experience of the bar in much heavier seas, and he had also seen the conditions better. On approaching the bar he had followed the line of the beacons —a little to windward. The scow steered well and the centre-board was up, and he entered under canvas and had his engines going. He had done this because one could not depend on oil engines very well. The tide was at threerquarters flood. On account of an expected heavy set he haffi taken his ship to windward, and he liad found the set in the same direction as the wind. On nearing the War he had placed his vessel more iln proper line with the leading beacons. Things went on all right ajid as she was in a certain positionV outside the moles sne took a sheer to starboard, or towards the moles. She was going at from six to eight mMes per hour. When the Eunice tookNthe sheer the helm was amidship. 'Mien he saw her bow pay off. or goVto starboard. He immediately ordeVed the helm "hard a-starboard." vessel did not answer immediately Hand paid off two points before she caVne round. The scow was then headed towards the north breakwater. < Cut the wind and tide Tteing so strong <)n the same direction, sent his vessel t*> leeward, or towards the south wall\before he could clear. She struck 'the. ..extreme end of the wall with her starlt.oa.rd quarter and lost headway, bumped heavily on the stones, and then carried away the woodwork on tse wall. The Eunice began to break ufe and fill with water. Nothing could* be' done to save her, so he ordered* the crew ashore He did all he could : t6 save the ship. Captain Holm attributed the mishap' to the wind, set, and state of-the sea. To Mr Treadwell: He had first felt a slight set about 10Q yards from where the Eunice took the sheer, but he had experienced no trouble whilst traversing the distance. Previous to taking the sheer to starboard the scow had taken a slieer to port, and in order to clear the north mole he had put the helm aport, and the vessel was steady just before taking the sheer to southward. The port sheer was the result of a roller. He would not care, to express an opinion, hut he would say the set might have been travelling at two miles per hour, and at times perhaps faster. To Mr Watt: His experience of the bar was thai-there has always.been a set across the entrance, varying, according to local weather conditions, WitnessJiad been into practically every bar harbour in New Zealand, and had found the same' conditions prevailing. A discussion took place between witness and the Court, during the course of which it was pointed out that if the Eunice was travelling at eight miles per hour the "set" must have been travelling at 12 miles per hour to. place his ship "where she struck the south mole. CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE. |; Captain Robert Sproule, mastei, mariner, at present residing in Lyt-| telton, was master of the Eunice for! about eight years. He had been ne-! gotiatfng har harbours, in New Zea-] land for the past 22 years. In his experience there was always a strong set to the south at Wsn'ganul when the wind had been blowing from the north-west for four or five days. The set would be running at about three miles an hour. Witness had seen a set on a flcod tide at this port, but nothing like it was when the tide was on the eb>: The Eunice being a flat-bottomed vessel, she was liable!! to sheer to either side. With the;' engines running, the Eunice did net make much leeway. Witness cousfl not suggest anything that the captain of the Eunice did not do. Every jhan must. use his own judgment when crossing a bar. . ~ \ To the Court: He had had experience of Greymouth bar/and had never experienced much trouble with the Eunice there." All the times ne had crossed the Wanganui bar the vessel had negotiated it well. Captain. Bonner said it was his experience that there.was a set at bar harbours in New Zealand. (Proceeding.)