H.—ls

28

Return of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department from the 1st April, 1922, to the 31st March, 1923.

J| Nt cfl ° « iber of ] Nature of Number Place where Casualty occurred. Win Direction, j Wind. id. Force. Date of Casualty. Vessel's Name, Age, and Class, Big. Passen- | gers. Finding of Court of Inquiry. Name of Master. Casualty. Lives lost. Cargo. 1922. Jan. 25 Ngatiawa, s.s., 16 years Schooner 220 22 25 General Accident to machinery ; £100 damage Stranded Bay of Plenty Calm .. Low - pressure piston - head carried away. A. Parris. Engine converted to compound, but cylindercover and cylinder broke later The Court found that the master committed a i George Schultzi slight error of judgment in standing in too close when tacking. His chart showed sufficient depth of water, but the " New Zealand Pilot " gave notice that the sands were shifting. Vessel refloated. Certificates of master and mate returned The tail-shaft carried away, but vessel con- I W. H. Stephen! tinued voyage under sail; propeller not lost The Court found that a good and proper lookout was kept on both ships, but a low-lying haze around the " Zita " reduced the visibility of her side lights; that the chief officer of the " Maori " acted properly in B. Irwin. porting his helm, but it would have been better had he indicated his change of course H. Johansen. by signal on the whistle, and that the chief officer of the " Zita " acted properly, as he was not aware that the ' : Maori " had seen him. No order made as to costs. Owing to a faulty link the steering-chain A. Robertson. carried away and the vessel went ashore on the north mole, but was refloated on following tide That the collision was due to Captain Seliars's (master of the " Wairau ") disregard of the accepted rules of good seamanship, and particularly out of (a) a serious breach of George H. Se articles 20, 23, 24, and especially article 25 lars. of the Regulations for preventing Collisions at Sea in that he did not keep to his own Alex. H. Watcl starboard side of channel as directed in said lin. article 25 ; and (6) non-observance of Regulation 31 of the General Harbour Regula- Herbert W. Si tions (New Zealand) in that he did not have britsky. a helmsman assisting him in navigating his ship, although such ship had a crew of six men Feb. 16 Valmarie, 3 years Schooner 256 1 12 Farewell Spit .. j E. Moderate Jan. 21 Kapua, aux., 10 years F. and A. 8,000 ft. kauri i Tail - shaft carried away ; £15 damage 1 J Hauraki Gulf .. S.E. Forty-five miles north- N.W. east from Godley Head Light .. Light < Light .. Feb. 26 Maori, s.s. Collision Schooner 1,567 103 246 „ 26 Schooner 73 8 Collision Light Zita, aux. Mar. 7 Gale, s.s., 10 years Schooner 453 21 Stranded ; no damage i Bar, Wanganui River W. Fresh breeze Fresh breeze „ 31 Wairau, s.s. 25 tons 25 tons Collision ; no damage l> ■■ Dargaville Wharf, Kai- S.W. para Harbour 5 < Cutter .. 220 15 George H. Sel lars. „ 31 Laura, 34 years.. Barquentine 226 13 493 tons coal . 493 tons coal .. Collision ; no damage Alex. H. Watch lin. „ 31 Molly, 15 years .. Cutter .. 3 1 Collision ; £150 damHerbert W. Su britsky. age