LOSS OF THE BARQUE AFFIANCE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2630, 1 February 1868, Page 6

LOSS OF THE BARQUE AFFIANCE.

The report of the Court of Inquiry upon the result of the investigation into the circumstances attending the loss of the barque Affiance has been published. The pith of it is contained in the following paragraphs : — " I am of opinion that he too readily gave credence to the mate and the seaman Kerr, to their view that the land seen waa Stephen's Island ; and that, had he consulted his chart and laid down his position at the time, he would have seen reason to pause before giving in to their dictum, and at all events to have hove-to till daylight. He ought also to have proved his position by sounding ; and it would appear, on reference to the chart that tho ship should have been hauled to the southward some hours before she sighted Kapiti. I therefore think the master should be censured for the reasons given above. " In mitigation it may be stated, that the master appears to hays been most careful in his observations, and in his attention to tho management ot the ship. " With regard to the final disaster in Fitzroy Bay it appears from the evidence that had the danger signals been repeated into Wellington, and assistance sent out, both ship and cargo might have been brought safely into port. The person in charge of the signal station gives as his excuse that the vessel was end on to his position ; that he oould not therefore see the signals. But this statement is contradicted by fehe pilot, J. A. Scott, and his brother David Scott, as also by the officers of the ship, who stated that the masts were clear. " It would appear, therefore, that the signalman is to blame for not seeing and repeating the signals."