H.—6.

20

RETURN of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department, from the 1st April, 1883, to the 31st March, 1884.

Date ol Casualty. Name of Vessel, also Age and Class. Eij 2% Number of Nature of Number Place where Casualty occurred. rind. Decision ol Court of Inquiry. Name of Master. 'Sis PassenJ gersCargo. Casualty. Lives Lost. Direction. Force. 1883. Nov. & Malay, 21 years Barque.. 328 Coal Starboard bulwarks and stanchions carried away, and plank started below deck-line Stranded; partial loss Brothers Light, S. about twenty miles, Cook Strait S. Gale Vessel struck by heavy sea while lying-to in a furious gale Ferdinand Holm. | Off the Airedale (or Taniwha) Reef Casualty caused by master steering for light which was not the Waitara light. He was close inshore before he discovered his mistake, and then, in putting vessel's head to S.W., he did not alter his course sufficiently to clear the reef. Master ordered to pay costs of inquiry While ship's boat crossing the bar a blind roller broke and capsized her, and three of the crew were drowned Vessel was suddenly enveloped in smoke of funnel, preventing master from noticing set of tide, which drove vessel towards rock, against which she grazed, without doing herself any damage beyond a slight indentation on port side amidships Schooner " Mary Wadley," in being towed from wharf, swung round and fouled the " Annie," causing the damage Casualty caused by vessel not answering her helm quickly, owing to the tide catching her bow Vessel drifted ashore in broad daylight, after having swung and fouled her anchor. Master guilty of gross carelessness, and his certificate suspended for six months Vessel brought into foul ground through want of experience of second mate. Master neglected to take proper precautions for steering safe course, and was absent from deck when rounding Cape Egmont, leaving safety of vessel to judgment of young officer unacquainted with coast. Log-books and other official records of ship, and absence of night order book, show great general careless- . 6 Douglas, s.8., 2 years Ketch .. 60 10 General E.S.E. Light .. Charles Bormer. . H Pleiades Loss of life only Entrance to inner harbour, Napier N.E. William Setten. Ship .. 997 S Moderate . 16 Maliinapua, s.s., 1 year Schooner 275 24 3 Coal Stranded; slight damage Eeef off Jackson's Head, Cook Strait N.W. Gentle .. John Bemech. . 18 Damage to bulwarks, &c. Stranded; no damage Alongside wharf at Greymouth Thomas Edward Mclntosh. Annie, 5 years Ketch .. 42 Ballast.. w. Fresh .. . 19 Oreti, ■ 's.s., 6 yeara Schooner 117 1G 2 General Inside mouth of Hokitika Eiver s.w. Fresh .. William Robertson. » 21 India, 30 years Barque.. 203 10 Sawn timber Stranded; total loss Martin's Bay, Hokianga Eiver W.N.W. Moderate breeze Kenneth McKenzie. . 23 Takapuna, s.s., 1 year, Al 100 Schooner 370 52 18 Ballast .. Stranded; partial loss Little to southward of Cape Egmont Lighthouse Calm .. Frederick Jonea.