INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE RANGITOTO.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3873, 2 August 1873, Page 2

INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE RANGITOTO.

«. A court of inquiry into the circumstances attending the loss of the s.s. Rangitoto was held at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, at one o'clock, before J. 0. Crawford, Esq, BiM ., Captain Johnston.and Captain Edwin. Mr Hackworth watched the case on behalf of the Customs, and Mr Travers on behalf of the captain and officers. All the witnesses having been ordered out of Court, Captain Hugh Mackie was called and deposed : We left Nelson on the 30th ult, at 12. 50, weather being fine. I took her through the French Pass at 4.10 p.m. of the 30th. About five o'clock, thinking the veßsel was in safety, I went into my cabin, leaving the chief officer in oharge of the deck, instructing him to oi»ll me when abreast of Jackson's Head, if necessary. He is well acquainted with the coast, and holds a master's certificate from the Melbourne Board of Trade. He had been second officer in the Panama Company, and has been an officer with me ever since I have been in command of the steamer. This is the 53rd voyage in whioh he has sailed with me. We always passed between Jackson's Head and the rocks either night or day, unless when the weather was very bad. I was in my cabin vrhen the mate called me about 6.20, saying, " For God's sake, come on deck ; the ship has struck, and she is sinking." I rushed on the bridge, and seeing at once that she was making too much water, I considered it best to run her ashore to save life. The engines were Btopped afler she had struck, and were nearly stopped before she took the ground. I ran her ashore, on the nearest point at Jackson's Head, and fixed her firmly forward. We got the boats out and put in the women and children. Some remaiued on board until the Wellington came. We generally go through Jackson's channel full speed. It was at about a quarter to two the | Wellington came up. She remained with us until daylight taking passengers' luggage and such cargo as we could Bave. The Wellington left the vessel yesterday about eleven o'clock, after having went up the Sound to piok up one of the other boats. Tha veasel was well found in boats and rigging. When she left Nelson she was drawing thirteen feet aft, and seven feat six inches forward. She was provided with watertight compartments, which were found of use. There was communication through the fore engine room bulkhead for convenience of cooking, bub it could be made perfectly tight after the coal was passed by means of a sliding door tightened with screws. At the time the vessel struck that door was open, as they were shifting coal out of the reserve to the bunkers. She struck on the starboard bow. 1 should imagine she struck at the turn of the bilge. By Mr Travers —I I was up the major portion of the two preceding nights. 1 felt a little fatigued. I had full confidence in ray chief officer, who knows the place as well as I do. The night was a little hazy, but not foggy. A few stars and a young moon were out. Robert Armstrong, chief officer, deposed — I hold a master's certificate of competency from the Melbourne Board. I have been in Messrs M'Meckan, Blaokwood and Go's employ for about four years and a half — in the Alhambra and Rangitoto — portion of the time as second officer. I have passed through Jackson's Channel nearly every month for the last seven years. I was in charge of the deck when we went through. We always use that channel when we go through the French Pass. About six o'clock, I relieved the second officer, and took charge of the deck from him. The weather was fine overhead : there was a slight haze over the land, the higher parts of which I could see distinctly. It was dark. I roceived no orders, no course being givan. I knew I had to eteer by the laud. We wore going full speed. I kept my look-out on the bridge, and was there when she struck. I thought I was all right. I could see the outer rock, but not the inner one; The man on the look-out forward sung out breakors ahead. I ordered the helm hard a-starboard and stopped the engines. I could see the rocks then myself. She struck very heavily under the Btarboard fore-rigging. I sung out to clear away the boats and sound the forehold. It was dry then, but in about ten minutes he reported 3ft 6in there. I was alone on the bridge and keeping a sharp look out. The vessel does not answer her helm very quickly. I account for the. disaster by the fact that the vessel wasrcloser into the headland than I thought, as I could not see distinctly. The tide was at flood, and against us. I had been aft about two minutes previously and got the helmsman to keep the vessel out a little more. Directly after the vessel struck I oalled the Captain, who at once came upon deck and took charge. We both remained on the bridge. I had ray hand on the telegraph to stop the engines when the vessel struck. After the acoident we did our utmost to save passengers and cargo. The men behaved remarkably well. The boats were in good order and quite tight, We were going ten kaote at

the time. T hare often taken the Rangitoto through before during night and day, and I generally steered about 150 to 200 feet from the head. William Donaldson, second officer, deposed, I hold a first mate's certificate. I took charge of the deck at four o'clock from Mr Armstrong. When relieved again by Mr Armstrong, I reported Mana light and Jackson's Head. The weather was fine, but there was a nasty haze over Jackson's Head, and it caused Mana light to have the appearance of two separate lights. When I was relieved I went to supper. I was coming up on deck when the vessel struck. I imagined we were about 100 feet from the mainland when we struck. Robert Brook, chief engineer, deposed : I was in my berth at the time of the casuality ; it was not my watch. Everything in connection with my department was in good order. The door in the bulk was open when the vessel strusk, and had been since we reached. Hokitika. We were constantly taking coals out of the reserve bunker. Between the main bunker and the reserve bunker was an iron watertight bulkhead in which is a sliding door fastened with screws. The second engineer was in charge at the time of striking. Mr Richard Blackwood, on being examined, said fche vessel was insured for £10,000, the company underwriting for the balance of the value. I am not one of the firm. I am brother of Mr Blackwood, of the firm, and am merely taking his place as manager of the firm during his absence. I was a passenger. I have known the captain and officers for a long time in the employ of the company, and I believe they are as good a set of officers as ever went on board any vessel. I have always understood that they were great favoritiea with the travelling public. I was in the saloon at the time the vessel struck. During the afternoon, and previous to the casualty, I had seen the officers, and to the best of my knowledge and belief they were perfectly sober, and otherwise fit for duty. I had reason to be very well satisfied with the exertions made by the officers and crew after the casualty. I value the ship at £25,000. I do not know the value of the cargo, nor what it is insured for. Thomas Irvin, A.8., deposed: I took the wheel about six o'clock in the evening, and Mr Armstrong was standing by conning the ship. The mate went upon the bridge, and the man on the look-out,oalled out breakers. I was at the wheel only a few minutes altogether before the ship struck. The mate sung out to me to put the helm hard a afcarboard. I did bo, but she did not answer her helm, — I suppose, on aocount of tbe current. She used to answer her helm before. In a few minutes she struck, and while going at full speed. Joseph Nancarrow, engineer-surveyor, deposed: I was a passenger on board the Rangitoto. I was in the saloon when the accident happened. As far as I could judge, the master and officers were perfectly sober. I was very well satisfied with the efforts male to save life and property after the casualty. Had the captain not put the ship on shore as promptly as he did, the ship must have sunk. The officers were very energetic after the accident. James Dobbs, the engineer in charge of the engine rojm at the time of the casualty; deposed : I felt the vessel strike, and simultaneously the telegraph signalled to stop tho engines, which I did. In a few sooonds the chief engineer and third engineer came down into the engine room. A few minutes afterwards I was instructed to go full speed ahead. I did so. I went down to the stokehole to see if she was making any water, and the bunker was full of water. I could not get at the sliding door in the bulkhead. It was open, and the water must have gone through there. It was in good working order at the time. I don't think she struck abaft the watertight bulkhead. If the reserve bunker door had been shut, the fires would not have been put out so soon, and the vessel would have floated longer. John Brown, A.8., who had been keeping the look out on the starboard bow, said he saw Jackson's Head, with a haze over it. A- few minutes after he saw something like a slight wash, and sang oiit, " Breakers on the starboard bow." I did not hear any orders given, as I was in the eyes of the ship. A minute after I saw a rook looming up just level with the surface of the water. I thought the vessel was going her course all light, but she struck some rock below the surface of the water, and under her fore rigging and starboard bilge. I think the ship waa forty yards from the high land when she struck. I have often gone through the passage. Neil Maclean, coal trimmer, deposed : I did not see any water come into the bunker, as I cleared out *as quickly as I could when the vessel Btruck the second time. The Court retired for a considerable time to consider their verdict. Upon returning, Mr Crawford said the Court was of opinion that the master should have taken tho vessel past Jackson's Head and all outlying danger j but as he had an officer who held a certificate of competency as master, and as he had on previous occasions taken the vessel through the passage, ths Court, while taking all this into consideration, held that tho master should be censured. The immediate cause of the wreck appeared to have been an error of judgment on the part of the chief officer with regard to the distance between Jackson's Head and the reef ; but as he had frequently taken the same passage, the Court was of opinion that on that occasion he did not exercise such vigilance as was necessary in intricate navigation. In his case, also, the Court judged that he should be censured and admonished for the future. The Court was further of opinion that had the sliding door of the watertight compartment been shut at the time of the casualty the vessel might poasibly have floated some considerable time longer.