MARINE INQUIRIES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 401, 9 January 1909, Page 7

MARINE INQUIRIES.

• THE CHARLES EDWARD. : (HI TEIEPaAPU—I'n" R S (iSJQpIA.TIONJ Wansanul, January 8. A magisterial inquiry - was held this morning, before Mr. Graham, S.M., and Captains Smith and Reecl, into tho stranding of the steanior Charlea Edward-at the end.of the breakwater, on December 16. Captain Graham'said the vessel was or 145 tons, built in 18G4. She was overhauled at Nelson two weeks before the accident, ana was loaded with 200 tons Qfcaal. and; was drawing 7ft. Bin. forward, and-:9fv aft, ?" the time of tho acoidont. There -was'a moderate southerly gala and fairly heavy sea when the vessel took the bar at high tide at 3.20. She struck on the outer part of the barj and oontinued striking. About half an hour afterwards the engineer re" ported that the water was making in the after-hold, where she struok, She nad previously crossed the bar making more water, and' after high tide, The vessel waa never properly clear of the bottom from the time alio first struck. A tug was signalled for, but tho pilot replied that none was available. Efforts were made to keep the steamer's stern in.the channel, and to back her off, but they were of no avail, Her bead was then 60ft, out to- sea from the. pes of the breakwater, the vessel lying straight across the ohannel. - Efforts wore continued till 7.30, when the water had risen in* her, and put the fires out, and by the next morning seas'had drifted her under the pilework of the breakwater. Linos were then run out, but they were of little use, and. no attempt afterwards was made to move her. She had often struok harder on tho bar without serious effect, and witness was of opinion that' on this .occasion something harder .than sand had been struck, Had h<! not. struck on it the steamer would liave oome in safely! He bad never had any pasualties'. beforo, and knew the bar well. _ ;; Captain Irvine, the harbourmaster, said the sea was bumpy, but nothing put of the ordinary, and he could not see anything to ropier, the, bar unsafe the vfc?scj orossed. The vessel had come, in before under similar conditions.. There was lift. 4in. op the bar when she came in, The bar was spymded two days later, when no variation was ?hown. to what. had been the state for tjvo (nonths past, The set. tif J wind prevented,-.the..-vessel* obcying thb;;direotioii. given by'the; semaphore,JlG'didnot think to bring tho';.vessel .safely ' into; port.-" 'Tliis concluded the evidence. " Wanganul, Later! : The Court said there waß no blame attach"aMe to the officers, who had followed tho pilot's instructions. Their certificate? were, therefore, returned. . ' • ■ . „ : The Court-will give 'its full verdict m the morning. ;.•• • '■ ; i

• THE SCHOONER TJRUROA. •In the case.of the schooner TJruroa, which stranded near tho mouth of the Wanganui River, Captain Harris stated that' he sighted the Castlecliff light at 8.30 on the night of December 18. He was then thirteen miles away'to the westward. . After running forhalf an hour, the second mate Bounded the lead, and got nine fathoms, this eventually being reduced to eight. ; 'Aj on previous visits, tho captain intended to anchor in . a handy,. position p(f the. bar in order; that . » trig might • take ."him/jn, at hightide.': eight fathoms' was reported; ;ths ;anchor was dropped,-, but ivhen the vessel 1 ' swu'ng. : to'-an--1 chor he discovered there wore only two. and a. half ;fathbms. Tho sea was rising, and [the i'captain kne\v he was in a'dangerous .position'; A thick haze'had conhised his estimate of, tho 1 distance frpm,'shore.. -He'signalled for a tug, but got no" assistance.;: Tho vessel then bogan' to drift, "hut witness was.afraid to. drop another anchor, as it would have caused the I vessel .to, founder, [the pea breaking, right ' over, her;'-' -Tho .'vessel-, continued 't.b drag 1 'among the breakers, and eventually stranded, (jjvThis .evidence! was corroborated by thp chief officer, socond'"qfßcer', ; and. two seamen, .who stated that everything was done to save the vessel. -No other evidence was called.,. ' Judgment'.isbei: given ;thisimorning;'..