STRANDING OF BARQUE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19174, 3 December 1927, Page 17

STRANDING OF BARQUE.

CAPTAIN EXONERATED. ti>REBS A3SOCUTIOK TELSGKAU.) NAPIER, December 2. At the enquiry into the stranding of the- barque Maroro near Porangahau, Captain J. W. Jones, the master, said that the vessel met increasingly bad weather from Cape Turnagam onward Ho turned the vessel, seeking shelter under Cape Palliser. He turned again owing to the weather, anl hove to /jH' daylight, when he set out for Castlepoint to anchor. The attempt failed and he headed for Napier. Ultimately the weather forced him to shelter under Blackhead. Anchoring on November 23rd, he took all precautions and retired at 8 p.m. He returned on deck at midnight, when conditions were fairly good. An hour later they became worse He decided to endeavour to round Cape Kidnappers. The vessel began to drag both anchors in spite or the engine going full ahead. The vessel struck aft at i a.m. When the tide receded the vessel was high and dry. He sheltered because he was without lubricating oil, and the vessel, being without cargo or ballast, was unmanageable. Following the evidence of the captain, the mate corroborated his_ evidence, members of the crew also giving In its'finding the Court exonerated the captain from all blame, as it was considered he had acted rightly in sheltering, but, not havin- a knowMge of local conditions, had plaoed too much faith in the "New Zealand Pilot' which was slightly erroneous. The Couri said the captain did all he could to save the ship, and accordingly returned his and the- mate's certificates.