47

H.—ls

Return of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department from the 1st April, 1920, to the 31st March, 1921.

Date of Vessel's Name, Age, Casualty. and Class. Rij » Si Number of Nature of Number of Lives lost. Place where Casualty occurred. j Direction. Wind. Finding of Court of Inquiry. Name of Master. Ufa | Passenfa gers. Cargo, Casualty. Force. 1919. | lov. 8 j Clutha, p.s., 9 years 173 7 W. General Collapse of boiler ; damage, £1,500 to £2,000 Clutha River .. W. Moderate Shortage of water in the boiler caused the crown of the furnace to collapse and allow the steam to escape. The Court found that the accident was due to the negligence of the fireman in allowing the water in the boiler to become so reduced as to cause the collapse of the furnace. The fireman succumbed to the injuries he received When crossing the bar a heavy rain squall obscured all land-marks. The Court exonerated the master and crew from any blame The ship was lost at sea with all hands on or about 26th March, 1920, whilst on a voyage from Motiti Island to .Auckland. The Court was of opinion that she foundered in exceptionally bad weather The launches were in each case being steered by passengers, and the collision was probably due to their inexperience K. Tsukigawa. 1920. 'eb. 25 | Kittawa, s.s. 708 25 Stranded ; trifling damage Manukau bar .. W. E. R. Nicholas. Schooner Chaff J.. W. Moderate -About Iar.g26 Kahu, aux., 31 years Schooner 25 4 Maize .. Foundered ; total loss 4 Not known .. S.E. S.E. Gale .. John Leafberg. „ 31 Sampson No. 2, o.e.v., 6 years „ 31 Nancibel, o.e.v., new ipril 5 Fannie, 48 years Cutter .. General Near Turua, Thames River, Auckland A. M. McMahon. 3 1 3 Collision; damage, £50 Collision; damage, £70 Fire ; total loss.. } Calm J Cutter .. 5 1 30 C. McCarthney. Hulk .. 9 .. Whangaroa, Chatham ! Islands The owner was cleaning engines with benzine when an explosion took place, and the vessel took fire and was totally destroyed Vessel was loading sulphur when it took fire in No. 2 lower hold. The fire was put out by water, and no more sulphur shipped. Damage to ship (if any) not ascertained Fire was caused by heat from donkey-boiler „ 9 Port Melbourne, s.s., 8 years Schooner 5,852 93 12 General Fire Galveston, U.S.A. .. N. Light .. F. Kearney. „ 14 The Portland, 10 years „ 30 Inga, s.s., 16 years Schooner 59 4 Fire j damage, £30 A. Nelson. 14 30 Schooner Wharf, Auckland South Taranaki Bight E.S.E. Light .. The Court was of opinion that the casualty was contributed to by the default of the master in failing to use the patent log and by the neglect of the chief officer in failing to call the master, as instructed, when she was passing Otomotua Point, as this would have given the master an opportunity of discovering that the vessel had run off her course through apparently being affected by a set inshore. The Court considered that the conduct of the second officer called for severe censure and that of the master for some censure, and ordered them to pay the cost of the inquiry (£11 lis.) in equal shares J. H. Bull. 570 20 Coal and timber Stranded; considerable damage I