MANUKA WRECK INQUIRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17913, 8 January 1930, Page 8

MANUKA WRECK INQUIRY.

TO-DAY’B PROCEEDINGS. ALL PRECAUTIONS TAKEN. FEAR OF BOAT SINKING. (By Teleifrapn.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Wednesday. The nautical inquiry into the wreck of the Manuka was resumed this morning. Captain Ross Clark, continuing his evidence, said he was actually the last to leave the ship, but really five or six men jumped together. He considered it prudent to wait until daylight to take the boats in as they might have been dashed on the rocks. There was only one landing place in the vicinity, and that was the one at which they landed- It had to be found in daylight. From the time witness reached the bridge everything he could think of was done to try to save the ship. Corroborative Evidence. Evidence in corroboration of the captain’s statement was given by C. R. Carlvon, the third officer, and Alex. Allen, first officer. The chief engineer, Edward Arthur Griffiths, said he had been two and ahalf years on the Manuka, and was previously on her in 1905. On the night of the wreck, in accordance with standing orders, revolutions were taken every hour. The average between nine and ten o'clock was 88}, and at ten o'clock it was 89: that would give an' average speed of 12A knots to eight o’clock, and 13 knots afterwards. At 10.53 the order " Full astern ” was received. He was in charge of the boat in which the ship’s papers were put. The boat was swamped after leaving the ship. The passengers baled, and the papers were given secondary consideration as against the fear of the boat sinking. When the people were taken off that boat he felt round and

Nautical assessors, who, with Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., as chairman, are inquiring into the wreck of the Manuka at'Long Point.

recovered the bridge book floating in the water in the boat. To Mr. Hanlon: When the vessel struck all emergency precautions were taken down below. All watertight doors were closed. Tribute to the Captain. The chief engineer said the captain took every step, even at great risk to his own life, to get the passengers and crew safely away. Even after the last boat left he was on deck along, whicli the waves were washing. The captain made a final review after the last boat left, to see that no one was still aboard. He then ordered witness to stand clear. Robert Moir, able seaman, said he was on duty as look-out man at the time of the wreck. Misty rain was coming down, and he could see about three miles in every direction. He saw no land or lights. Visibility became bad from nine o’clock onwards and then he could see about a mile, perhaps two miles. He was right forward in the eyes of the ship when he saw a black object on the port side. Immediately he shouted “ Land ahead ” and struck two bells. He stood on the forecastle and saw the vessel swinging to starboard just as she struck. In reply to the chairman witness said the reason why he did not see land sooner may have been because the moon shining through the clouds may have made the visibility seem greater than it really was. Witness read the log while assisting to launch the boat. Tiie reading was 59. Charles Harwell, helmsman, stated that he was at the wheel when the vessel struck. From the wheel-house he could see nothing. Caselins Macpherson, ablebodied seaman, said he was at the wheel till 10 o’clock, and was about the deck after that. He saw the bank of fog landwards, hut could not tell whether it was over land or sea. He did not see land till the ship struck. (Proceeding.) ,