THE LATE COLLISION.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 178, 4 August 1870, Page 2

THE LATE COLLISION.

CONTINUATION OF THE OFFICIAL

INQUIRY.

After the hour of going to press, yesterday, the evidence of Clifton, MacDermott, and Mr. Hadfield, who were on board the Enterprise at the time of the collision, was received, all corroborating in the main the statements of Captain Millis, and the enquiry was adjourned till to-day. It was resumed at noon, in the Police Court, before the same Justices —Captain Daldy, Mr. Bitchic, and Captain Clayton, the Nautical Assessoi

Richard Millis, late captain of the ketch, lv-called and re-examined by the Nautical Assessor : I think the wind wa3 N.W. lam not sure if it was not N.N.W. When opposite Sail Rock S.E. by S. I was at the wheel. My course after passing the Rock was S.E. iS. I gave Clifton S.E. by S. when giving him the wheel at 12, the wind then was N.W. a little N. Would not bo sure if it was not N. The wind was inclined to shift to N. We were shipping no water. In smooth water the height of the covering board was five inches aft, amidships it was seven inches. Had no lazy guy ; had no rope on the boom to secure it from swinging. The boom was eased off close to the rigging. The jib was drawing at times. I had no tack trysail up. I was staying alongs'de the man at the wheel when I saw the bright light on the port bow. On the red and green lights being called out I ran up with the torch in my hand, not having time to light it. I had scarcely got below before Clifton called out. lie said he saw them right ahead. Could not swear that the helm was not put a starboard before this ; could not swear it was put aport either. The tiller was shipped abaft; the rudder-bead, and the wheel stood before the rudder-head. On coaling up I ran forward at once, and by the time I got to the foremast she struck. I saw the red light. iShe had no sails set. I believed I heard the working of the engines. 1 did not notice the funnel, or any paddlewheels. I fancy wo struck the steamer a glancing blow ; the ketch had a stout wire stay Sit up on the stem head ; when I examined the bows by putting my hand over, the stay was there. I saw none of the boats of the steamer. I did not hear the man at the wheel say anything. Turned the boat over on the starboard side. The rollocks were left in the galley; the oars were generally under the boat. Our boat was a whaleboat. There was no place for the steer-oar. Kept the boat to the sra by an oar on each bow. Clifton used the painter, and I used the rail, and we had to keep the stern to the sea. We shipped a little water at first. I swear I was not, under the impression that the steamer/ went down. I think it was my imagination regarding the cries. (Pointed out on a chart the spot where the collision occurred—apparently in a right line, and half way between Sail Rock and Point Rodney.) I am aware that by crossing over tho neck from Little Omaha to the north beach I could have seen where the collision occurred. I worked my position about eight or ten mile 3 oiF the land before giving the wheel (o- Clifton, in order to try and see Tiritiri light. C. C. Clifton recalled : When I first saw the light it was on tho port bow. The companion was twulve feet from the wheel. I believe the captain wont below immediately. Could see into the cabin partially. When I saw the red and grocn lights I had lost sight of the white light. The jib was flapping sometimes I looked under the boom when the white light had gone. I saw the red and green lights under the boom, a quarter-point on tho starboard bow. I most solemnly swear that I did not starboard my helm after seeing the red and green lights. I will not swear that I did not starboard my helm af cer I saw the bright light. I might have done so in order to keep my course. Ido not sweur nositively that I did starboard my helm. I don't know if the vessel came to windward. I positively swear that I did not put the helm hard-a-starboard. I do net know whether the vessel's head moved by the compass. I think we struck the steamer square. I think I saw the funnel. I swear that I did not then think that the steamer went down. I thought it was the Samson. The cry from the cabin I thought was from some ono hurt by the jibboom The other cry I thought was from some one overboard.

W". J. Hurst deposed : I am a merchant, in Auckland, managing owner and agent of the late steamer Taut auga. I believe the certificate of registry was on board. Her tonnage was 67 tons ; her official number 52,439. She was a schooner-rigged screw steamer. At 5.30 p.m. on 23rd July, she left Auckland, for Russell, Bay of islands, She had about 25 to 30 tons general cargo. She had two piles ol 9 x 1 sawn boards forward, in front of the bridge. She had two boats—one, a life-boat, and the other, an ordinary ship's boat, which had been recently passed by the Inspector of Steamers. I know she had two life-buoys—l think she had four ; they were placed on the bridge, ready for use. The boats were swung in on the davits when she started. It was the first time she had carried her boats in that way. It was in consequence of the bad weather on her last up passage forthe Bay. Produce copy of the articles. The following were the crew and passengers on board tlio Tauranga on her last trip :—JJj. V. Bolger (captain), William Harwood (engineer), John D- Munroe (mate), William Daveney and William Charles Jobson (firemen), Gr. Oldhuni (trimmer), Griffith Pritcliavd, C. Law, William E. Ransome and W. Forster (A.B.'s), William Halm (steward), William Kell (assistant steward), Christopher Reynolds (cook), and I believe W. W. Clilford (assistant cook) was also on board. The passengers were—in the cabin: Edward Hertor (t cket 45), a gentleman that gave the name of W. Wall, also Mr. Land (ticket 39), Mr. Walters (ticket 40), in the steerage. I believe there were some others on board. I was on the steamer till she started. The Tauranga was a wooden vessel. Her usual speed under stoam was eight and a-half to

nine knots. According to her rate of speed she would have bsen on this night about ten miles on this side of Sail Rock at half-past 12. I went to the Bay of Islands on the 26th July, in the Samson. The Tauranga had not then arrived. I left again on Friday evening. She had not then arrived. We made a search returning, but did not find the steamer. _We searched along the coast and the Little Barrier. The owners of the Tauranga were as per list produced. She was three years old. Her value was about £3500. Part of my interest was insured to the extent of £1000. It is in the Australasian Insurance Company. I know there is no other insurance, on her. I estimate the value of the cargo at about £400, and specie about £300. We never keep a manifest. I think there i 3 no insurance on the cargo. She was well "found in everything. Her certificate was granted three months since. She had all the proper lights. I know that the compass was in good order. About the time of leaving the weather was dirty, and the wind, I think, about N.E., blowing stiff. To Mr. Bennett: I saw four passengers who went by the Tauranga. I knew Mr. Hector personally.

This closed tihe inquiry. In order to consider the evidence and draw up the decision of the Bench, the case was adjourned till to-morrow. The Court adjourned from two till half-past two, when the inquiry into the case of the barque Cantero was resumed, and was being continued as we went to press.