THE AORERE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16853, 5 June 1920, Page 9

THE AORERE.

ENQUIRY INTO LOSS. BEMAEKABLE EVIDENCE. (rEESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WAXGAXUI, June 4. The official enquiry into the loss of the steamer Aorore on tho Rangitikei beach on May 23rd, was held to-day, Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., presiding. The assessors wero Captains hite and McNab. Captain Crotts said he had been in charge of the steamer ."bout a montii. He left Blenheim for Wanganui on the 21st. Going from Wanganui to heim previously the vessel touched, after crossing the channel in Blenheim, what witness thought was a big boulder. She made water going up the river, and the engine pumps were always going. She was a dry ship alter reaching the wharf at B.enheim, but next morning it was reported to lnm that there were two feet of water m tho engine room. She was again pumped dry with the hand pumps. No Jnoro water was made while lying at the wharf, but wheli going down the river the nunips had to bo used frequently. fTe did not know much about the ship, but thought with a favourable trip across he could reach Wanganui. He knew before crossing the Yt'airau bar that she leaked, and that tho engine pump was defective. The weather was favourable when he left Jackson's Head. The engine pump worked all right till about ton o'clock that night, when the engines were stopped. He learnt from tho engineer that this was done to enable the water to be pumped out. As soon as tho vessel got into rough water she opened up and mado water. After the engines stopped the vessel continued under sail. About midnight the engines were got going again, and the water was kept under. Pie sighted land off Turakina about 7 o'clock in the morning. About 10 o'clock he sent for tho engineer and told him ho would have to make for Kapiti as the wind and sea were increasing. Steam wa3 decreasing owing to tho coal in tho bunkers, being wet. Instead of getting 501b of steam they wero only getting about 20. ' I

Captain Crotts said that about two hours after leaving Jackson's Head tho stokehold plates were awash in ono or two feet of water. Ho did not turn back because he thought it advisable to come across, even if he had to run I for Kapiti. At ten o'clock on Sunday ; morning there were about nineteen j hags of dry coal in the forcholcl and [ this was used. As soon as witness put the ship's head toward Kapiti the men could not work tho deck pumps as seas were going over them. 13y noon ho got 14 miles south of Wanganui. Tho engines were still working. Then he headed back for Wanganui, but an hour later the chief officer came up and said tho men were exhausted after pumping for about 21 hours, and asked mm to give them a sporting chance and beach the. vessel in daylight. They did not want to drown in the dark. About 1 o'clock he again turned for Kapiti, but an hour and a half later the engineer said there was no steam loft. The vessel was then under sail. He asked the engineer to give him 10Tb of steam, hoping to make Fo"ton. The men canio to him again, asking for a sporting chance, so ho decided to beach tho vessel. She drifted ashore broadsideon. ' He attributed the loss of the vessel to springing an excessive leak. Ho never reported at Blenheim that tho vessel had struck a boulder. He was waiting till lie got to Wanganui. Witness saul tho seas were enortnous. Jarinan, mate.of tho Aorere since tho end or January, said he was in the vessel when she touched on Farewell Spit in February. In" March, on the wav from Grey mouth, they had to throw part of the timber cargo overbra'd due to the vessel leaking badly. The main engine pump used to get choked with coal, and they usually re.iedontho hand pump. The vessel was overhauled in March. Her bottom was then thorouwhi? Sf J un , After . leaving Jackson's Head the ship started to roll. The engine pump blocked with coal, and tho whole crew had to work the hand pump. J he wind shifted, the sea increased, and tho water gained on the pumping. The engineer all the time was endeavouring to clear the steam pump. The coal started to wash out of tho bunkers. Wrten land was sighted on Sunday morning there were four or five inches or water above tho stokehold plates. 1 limping was continuous. Coal was taken from tne foro hatch, tho cabin IV 13 dismantled, and the flooring of the_ after hatch and after galley used in trying to get up steam, but they could not raise a pound. William Hislop, engineer, said the vessel always leaked more or less. Steam railed when tho vessel was at Wanganui owing to the coal being washed Ifrom tne bunkers into the bilges, where thev could not reach it.

James White, a seaman, said that when in the ship's bunker nrior to the stranding ho s<v\v the floor rifting every time the vessel heeled over John Horn, A.11., said the vessel leaked after comwg off tlio slin at " Three witnesses g-ave evidence, and stated that the vessel was properly repaired at Wanganui, and came off the slip m a seaworthy condition. The enquiry is proceeding.