H.—27.

RETURN of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department, &c.— continued.

14

Date of Casualty. Name of Vessel; also, Age and Class. Ei| .__ a Number of Nati ire of Number of Casualty. Li™ LostPlace where Cas occurred. "ind. Decision of Court of Inquiry. Name of Master. P3>3i Passengers. Crew Cargo. Direction. Force. Feb. 13 I Charles Edward, p.s., 17 years Schooner 126 18 10 General... Stranded ; partial loss Two miles south of the Steeples, off Cape Foulwind On a rock off Long Look-out Point, Banks Peninsula Off Port Charles, northeast coast of North Island, N.Z. Calm Error in judgment on the part of the master in not keeping farther out Thomas Whitwell. „ 21 Clematis, 16 yrs. Brig ... 249 10 Timber ... Stranded; total loss S.W Moderate breeze Error in judgment on part of master in keeping too close to land. Master ordered to pay costs of inquiry Smoke of steamer rendered the schooner invisible. Master of schooner should have gone about as soon as his vessel was enveloped in the steamer's smoke. Had the schooner's helm been put hard down immediately on the steamer's light being seen, the collision would not have been so serious Henry Bowden „ 22 C Albion, s.s., 18 years Isabella Pratt, l^_ 6 years Alert, 7 years ... Schooner 591 100 General... Collision; slight damage S.E. Fresh ... Francis George Garrard. 39 Collision ; total loss Loss of life only Collision; slight damage William Cross. Schooner 71 6 Ballast ... 31 23 Schooner 45 13 Ballast ... 1 Lat. 50° 45' S., long. 166° 20' In Lyttelton Harbour N.W Man knocked overboard by mainsail Charles Rattray. 31 27 ■fLyttelton, p.s., 3 years Aspasia, 15 yrs. Mohaka, s.s., 3 years Cutter ... 39 7 2 Ballast ... S.W Gentle breeze Collision caused through negligence or want of caution on the part of both vessels. The lookout on board the "Lyttelton" was insufficient; and the schooner's light was not hoisted where it could best be seen. Costs of inquiry to be divided John William Clark. Mar. 3 Michael Moore. Schooner 45 5 1 Produce and timber Iron-wire and sulphur Ketch ... 20 6 Stranded; partial loss 300 yards south of the Wairau River-mouth The mate, Thomas Eckford, committed a breach of discipline by leaving the vessel in charge of a seaman instead of the proper officer. His certificate suspended for six months Casualty caused through pilot starting with a strong ebb tide, and the wind falling light and baffling. Pilot does not appear to have committed error of judgment, but to have weakly yielded to the fear of public criticism if he had declined to take the ship out in consequence of the improper Btate of the tide Stranding caused through error in judgment on part of chief officer, I homas Popham, in altering the course of the vessel. He believed the entrance to Tory Channel was ahead, whereas it was Boat Cove. Captain Malcolm censured for leaving the bridge before the vessel was clear of narrow waters. John Symons. 31 11 Waitara, 18 yrs., AA1 Ship ... Wool and general Stranded; slight damage On the Triangle Rocks, at entrance to Bluff Harbour W.N.W. Thomas Edward Cowell. 833 26 16 Penguin, s.s., 16 years Stranded; slight damage Near entrance to Boat Cove, Queen Charlotte Sound James Malcolm. » 25 Schooner 442 General