H.—ls

22

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

Date of Casualty. Name of Vessel, also Age and Class. Eig. Number of Nature of Number of Lives lost. Place where Casualty occurred. Win Direction. Wind. nd. Force. Decision of Court of Inquiry, &c. Name of Master. •Eta MB Passen5 gers - Cargo. Casualty. 1897. July 11 Mawhera, b.s., 14 years Schooner 340 28 20 General Fire on board; slight damage 18 miles from Wesfcport Fire discovered in afterhold at 10 p.m., supposed to have been caused by ignition of matches found in passengers' luggage Casualty was the result either of error in observing bearings or in calculating distance ship had run from Cape Soucis, or to strong current setting ship to N.W. when crossing entrance to Croiselles. Master in no way to blame While vessel was in tow of tug crossing bar a heavy roller struck her, causing the vessel to strike and unshipping rudder Master, trusting to his own knowledge of locality, approached the shoal too close, and vessel took the ground in stays Vessel, while running before the wind, was pooped by heavy sea, which washed master overboard, smashed the boats, and flooded the decks, placing vessel in great danger. Nothing could be done to save the master, as it took the crew all their time to save the vessel Not sufficient water on bar Lionel Worrall. . 12 Wainui, a.8., 11 years Schooner 411 30 36 Coal and general Stranded; partal loss Piege Rocks, Current Basin, French Pass N.E. Moderate, with rain squalls George Lambert. . 21 Ocean Banger, 30 years Timber.. Stranded; slight damage Bar of Grey River Douglas Harming Schooner 234 . 22 Huia, 3 years Schooner 196 Timber.. Stranded; partial loss Tory Shoal, entrance to Kaipara Harbour W. Moderate breeze i George McKenzie. » 24 Maud Graham, 21 years Schooner 80 Produce Struck by heavy seas; partial loss 1 OS Portland Island, on voyage from Lyttelton to Auckland S.W. Strong gale Hans Kruhl. . 27 Gratitude, 9 years Tasmania, s.s., 5 years, 100 Al Stranded; slight damage Stranded; total loss i Bar of New River Neil McDonald. Ketch .. 114 7 Timber.. S.W. Strong breeze Strong breeze 29 Schooner 1265 42 69 General 13 Rock, ofi Table Cape, Mahia Peninsula S.E. Vessel wrecked through careless and negligent navigation by Thomas McGee, master, and Percival McGrath, third officer. The certificates of each were suspended for six months, and the master was ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry, not to exceed £100 Fire broke out in engine room, where some tins of oil were kept —vessel being fitted with auxiliary oil-engines. Cause not ascertained. Vessel knocked a hole in her bottom through touching an unknown rock when entering the Harbour Vessel was being towed into the Buller River by the tug " Mana." Wreck was caused by a sudden and almost unprecedented roll of the sea towards the bar from the W.N.W., which roll took charge of the two vessels completely whilst on the outer bar, causing the hawser to part and leaving the " Yolande" at the mercy of the sea Thomas McGee. Aug. 3 Aotea, 3 years Tokomaru, near Poverty Bay • John Henry SkinSchooner 89 1 General Fire on board; partial loss Schooner ner. . 13 Monowai, s.s., 7 years 2137 75 70 General Stranded; slight damage Channel entering Bluff Harbour N.W. WilliamfChristie Sinclair „ 20 Y o 1 a n d e, 14 years Barquentine 395 10 Timber.. Stranded; total loss Bar of Buller River, Westport Ca lm Murdoch McDonald £