THE KIA ORA WRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 151, 26 June 1907, Page 5

THE KIA ORA WRECK.

NAUTICAL "ENQUIRY OPENED. A QUESTION OP. COURSE. The nautical inquiry into the wreck of the s.s. Kia Ora on the Piritoki Reef on the West Coast at 3 a_m. on the 13th inst., whereby the master, John Charles Blacklock, and two passengers, Messrs. M. Forbes and Ross, lost their lives, was opened to-day before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., assisted by Captains John Grant and Schofield, nautical assessors. The questions set forth in the application for inquiry were whether the loss of the ship was due to careless navigation on the part of her officers, bad steering, or from causes beyond the control of her officers and crew.

The Marine Department was represented by Mr. S. Mays; for the Crown Solicitor, Hon. J. A. Tole; Mr. M. G. McGregor appeared for the New Zealand Shipmasters on behalf of Captain Blacklock; Mr. S. Hesketh and Mr. C. Z. Clayton on behalf of the Northern S.S. Co. The first and second officers, Messrs. de Wolfe and Robertson, and the chief engineer, Mr. Baggstrom, appeared in person.

Mr. Kettle asked If any charge was made against anybody in connection with the WTeck.

Mr. Mays replied in the negative.

In his opening statement Mr. Mays stated that the vessel left Waitara on the night of June 12, bound for Kawhia. Captain Blacklock took her out, and set the course north a quarter east. She then had 19 officers and crew and 11 or 12 passengers j it was thought that there were eleven, possibly 12, but he thought the inquiry would prove that there were only eleven. The captain remained on watch till 10.15 p-m., and then de Wolfe, the first officer, took the watch from him, with instructions that he was to be called at a quarter past three, when he expected to be nearing Kawhia. Between 2 and 3 the captain was on deck several times looking at the course and weather, which had become thick. The captain was consulted as to the course, but no alteration was made. At the time she struck she was eight miles eastward of the course north a quarter east. He did not suppose it would ever be known where the deviation commenced. There was a deviation of eight miles in 41, or one mile in every five, and the cause of this would form the real point of the inquiry. Both officers maintained that they kept the course north a quarter east; that the compasses were right as far as they knew, and that the helmsman and lookout were capable men and I'ulfi.yed their duties. A little after three the vessel struck the Piritoki Reef, broke in half, and sank in 20 minutes, the captain and two passengers being drowned. It was quite clear that after the casualty everybody did his duty well, and that all lives which could possibly be saved were saved, the serious point of the inquiry being as to the course. He had found no warning given to mariners as to influences seriously affecting compasses. It is suggested that in foggy weather the ironsand on the coast affected the compasses, but that had not been raised before. Mr. Kettle r That was set up years ago when I was in New Plymouth in the inquiry into the loss of the Wanaka and Hawea. It is an old curio revived. ■Mr Mays: Of late years it has not been heard. He continued that the ship had been duly surveyed, and everything was found to be in proper order. Without allowing for compass deviation, two degrees in the case of the Kia Ora's compasses, the vessel should have passed five mihs westward of the Piritoki Reef, and 2i clear of the Albatross Point. All the witnesses having to do with the steering and navigation maintained that the course was steadily observed, the steering was good, with the exception that the vessel was making a little to starboard, but nothing out of the ordinary, and capable of correction from time to time. The cause of her going eight miles to leeward in 41 miles was an absolute mystery. The officers could give no explanation beyond that he had previously suggested. The lifeboats were in proper order and duly provisioned. Thos. B. de Wolfe, holder of a New Zealand foreign-going master's certificate, and first mate of the Kia Ora. said that the captain brought the vessel but of the Waitara River. The night was dark and hazy, there being no moon, but they could see two or three miles ahead when out of the river. The captain took her half a mile clear of the bar, and then set the course north, a quarter east, which would take her eight miles clear of the reef, and five miles clear of Albatross Point. Witness handed the watch over to the second officer at midnight, the weather being then thick and the sea smooth. The captain, in giving witness the watch, said that he was to be called at a quarter past three, or earlier if the weather became foggy. He maintained the course set throughout his watch, but allowed nothing for deviation. Mr Kettle: Why not? Witnessr Because I had no occasion to. There was plenty of room on that course without allowing for deviation. Mr Kettle: In setting the course, the captain allowed for deviation. Witness: Yes. Witness continued that he had experienced no serious insets on the coast between Waitara and Kawhia. There was little wind, and only a slight roll. Mr Mays: Was there any roll, wind, or inset sufficient to set the vessel ashore?— Not while I was on deck. Mr Kettle: Is that the course generally set? —Yes. Mr Kettle: And by how much do you clear Albatross Point in thick weather? —About four or five miles.

After leaving the deck he remained below until the vessel struck on the Piritoki Reef on the western end, about three-quarters of a mile from the shore. Had she been her own length further out she would have cleared the reef altogether. After she struck the starboard boat was <i*ot out, but the port boat was smashed, the captain giving orders to serve out lifebelts. Witness then gave the order to lower the port boat, of which he was in charge. It was lowered immediately, and as soon as she struck the water her tackles were clear. He backed her off clear of the ship as he saw her going down, taking her clear on account of having the women and children aboard. He pulled about in the vicinity of the wreck.

Mr. Settler How far was she out of her course? —Seven or eight miles.

Continuing, witness said that at 5 o'clock he took the raft with eleven survivors aboard, in tow. At daylight he pulled ashore, and a count of the survivors showed that of the crew Capt. Blacklock and two passengers were missing. The life boat was fully provisioned and watered. Nothing more could have been done than was' accomplished to

save the lives of those who were drowned. All were equipped with lifebelts.

Mr. Mays: If the starboard boat had got clear, would all have been saved? —I think so, she holds 25. Up to the time we left the scene of the -wreck there was no sign of the bodies. Mr. Mays: Can you account in any way for the vessel being seven or eight miles out of her course? —I cannot, not while I was on deck.

Mr. Mays: The course set should have cleared the reef by eight miles? —Yes. I cannot account for her coming in unless the compasses were wrong, or a current set her in.

Have you ever known the compasses to go wrong?— Nothing more than to be sluggish in foggy weather.

Have you ever experienced a current on that coast sufficient to set you in eight miles in 41?— No.

Mr. Kettle: And beyond compasses and inset you cannot account for the wreck ?—No.

It might have been caused by careless steering and inattention to compasses? —It might; I cannot say.

To Mr. Kettle witness stated that he and the second officer had been shipmates months, and he had always found the second officer absolutely reliable. He had found the helmsman and look-out reliable steady men. It was the practice to keep a little to the westward in coming up the coast in order to give a margin of safety. The .Kia Ora struck about an hour before low water.

Mr. Kettle: In your opinion was it necessary in the state of the weather, when you left the bridge, to put the vessel further off the coast? —No, I could have seen land five or six miles off.

Is there any standing instruction to alter the course when a fog comes on? —No, only to slow down. The captain alone alters the course unless in case of emergency. It was a strict rule tttat in the event of thick weather coming on the master was to be called at once.

Do you think there was sufficient tide setting in to carry you in 8 miles? — Well, there is sometimes a big inset before a blow. The day after the wreck it began to blow hard from the northwest.

By Mr. Clayton: The Kia Ora was in thorough sea-going order, well found in every respect. The steering gear was in perfect order. " There was no reason for hurry on the trip, nothing to induce them to cut things a bit fine, and the course given by the captain was absolutely kept while witness was on the bridge. Mr. Kettler Was she a good steerer? — Not the best I've been in; she worked about a bit. Was she difficult to steer?—No, not difficult, but I have been on vessels that were better; she was a good average vessel. Mr. McGregor: For a light draught vessel how did she compare with others of her class?— Favourably. By. Mr. Kettle: Was north a quarter east a safe course in a thick fog?—-Yes, but nearing Albatross Point I would put her out a bit. With a strong westerly wind and sea I would put her out half a point over the whole course. SECOND OFFICER'S STORY. Jas. Robertson, second officer and holder of a master's certificate for" a foreign-going vessel, stated that after setting the log he went to bed at a quarter past ten, and at 12 was called to take his watch from the chief officer, who gave him the course as north a quarter east, telling him to call the captain at 3.30 pr earlier if it became foggy. In his hearing the man who was at the wheel, gave the course to Forbes, who relieved, as north a quarter east, and she was on that course when he looked at the compass. He could see five miles when coming in deck, and ' there was little wind or sea. The course was maintained during his watch; he had never seen the vessel steer better. At 2 a.m. the wheel was taken by Anderson, and the captain was then called, the weather suddenly becoming very black, a fog and drizzling rain setting in. The captain asked whether there was a fog, and witness replied in the affirmative. Captain Blacklock then went on deck. He looked at the compass, but said nothing as to the weather, and gave no orders. Very soon after if cleared, and witness said to the captain, "-There's the land, right abeam." It appeared to him to -be five or six miles off to the eastward. The captain said, "Yes," in reply to witness's observation, and left the bridge. The weather thickened and he saw no further sign of the land, the fog being thicker than when he first called the captain. At about 2.20 a.m. the captain came on deck again; it was then so thick that he could not see the stem of the vessel. He did not sound the whistle or slacken speed. The captain did not say anything, hut remained on deck till just a moment before the vessel struck. There was no discussion about altering the course or slowing down. The vessel was just going the usual full speed. The captain set the course, and he expected, when getting it, that it was corrected for deviation. She hit the reef full, there was no break on the rocks, and nothing to indicate danger. A look-out was kept all through the night. (Proceeding.)