WRECK OF THE CYRENA.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18410, 17 June 1925, Page 9

WRECK OF THE CYRENA.

ENQUIRY .CONTINUED. (PUSS ASSOCUIZOS «BUtOUUL> ■W:ANGANUI, Jane 19. The nautical enquiry into the wreck of the Cyrena was continued to»day. Captain H. Johnston, signalman at tho pilot station,, gave evidence as to tho taking of the gauge at high-water on the .vessel stranded. It was perfectly safe to have brought the Cyrena in that day with two feet of water under bar bottom. Ho would have considered a foot of water a safe margin. The lowest water at the bar at high-water should, according to tho gauge, have been 18 feet 7 inches. He ■ considered that Captain Patterson, with his vessel drawing 16 feet 6 inches, was perfectly justified in coming in. Captain Patterson, of the Cyrena, said tho steamer'was drawing 16 feet 6 inches. After.the vessel grounded. one sounding showed 17 feet. Tfha v»sel was fast for- somo distance aaudships and towards the stern but afloat at the how and Stern. The ears* was trimmed and the water ballast adjusted, . and the draught at the stem lesseacd by a foot in an effort to get over the obstruction. At 8 o'clock that aig*t tho holds were dry, but at &30 there was 14 feet of waiter in tho after-heW and 10 feet in the fore-hold: Th« damage was caused by the Cyrena lifting and bumping heavily. She was drifting broadside-on to the north vaakt\ and taking all the seas she could get. She appeared to be not rigid and'to be very seriously damaged, the straetere giving indications of lunging: amidships. Using engine power and helm, he was alle to get her stern to sea. Before she finally settled, he squared her 'and put the engines ahead till she waa firmly ashore. He could hear the plates cracking, so much so that he was anxious to get the ship firmly settled In order to obviate further damage. From the time of the initial stranding the Cyrena never left tiro bottom. la eonsequence of all these circumstance*, witness concluded that the state of the steamer* was hopeless. An inspection next morning showed buckling of plate* on the starboard side. Witness did not think the damage could have been sustained on a soft mud bottom.