DISREGARDING SIGNALS AT PATEA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 404, 13 January 1909, Page 9

DISREGARDING SIGNALS AT PATEA.

In a recent issue of. the ."Patea Press " it'->reports that at last Tuesday's meeting of-the Patea Harbour Board, the pilot reported that there had been eight vessels ashore during the; twelve ninths, as against one. for 1907: Everything at tho station is in good working order. - Hβ went on to say: "On December 19, when the Kapiti was coming in," she took a'sheer and\ ran into : the bay between the western wall 1 and the guide pier, and grounded there. I cannot say much about it, as I was coming from thfr lower beacon to the top'one when she crossed" the bar, but I can gay that th<ve was plenty of water in the- channel at the time, as the Aorero came in after high water, and. never touched anywhere. On December 16'■ the Mana came-into port against .tho signals at 4 a.m. (2.68 tides') one liour after high water at neap tides, but she got in-all. right. ..-On the 27th..tho Mana got in,somehow at 2.5 p.m. with a heavy sea running and a strong tide going out. This was 1 -hour and 40 minutes after high water (12.25). I was at the flagstaff until 1.30 p.m. looking out for her, but could not see Tier, bo I 'wont in to dinner. I thjnk Captain Jackson is taking too muoh risk, because if the vessel had touched on the bar with that heavy sea running there might have been lives lost as well as the boat. ■ ' ■'■ •

; The Chairman: It seems that the captain of the Mana came in twice against the signals: of the pilot. ■■■...■■•■ Captain Tinney, the pilot, said the captain never blew the whistle, but just slipped in. There was a heavy sea running at the time. The Chairman: We have no control over the 'boats, except that we can notify the owners as to; what the captains are jloing. The owners might -not have any knowledge as to.what the captains were doing, and he would' move that their attention be drawn to the fact that the boats were entering the port against the pilot's signals. The captains,; by disregarding the signals .of the ■pilot, were taking a big risk with life, and their action might do the port very great injury. . , Mr. Dcanc, who supported' the chairman's remarks, seconded the motion. The motion was carried without dissent, and t, copy of the pilot's report is to bo forwarded to the owners. ..-■■■..' With reference to the above, the manager of the Patea Shipping Company denies that the stranding of vessels at tho port of Patea is in consequence of vessels not adhering to tho pilot's signals. As » matter of fact, all vessols that have gone in against signals have got: through without mishap, nnd tho accidents to resscls reported occurred while th« steamers were entering inwurds in obedience to the pilot's eignak of safety.