WRECK OF A SHIP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 6

WRECK OF A SHIP.

THE FOREST HALL INQUIRY. MASTER'S .CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED * OR TWO YEARS. (or TEMOmrU—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, March 19. The inquiry into the circumstances of the wreck of tho ship Forrest Hall on tho West Coast', some 20 miles south of Cape Maria van Dicman, on Saturday, February 27, was concluded this afternoon. The' inquiry had been adjourned from Monday last to enable particulars ot the insurances to be obtained. Captain Collins, who- was recalled by tho Court, stated, in answer to Mr. Kettle, that he joined tho Forrest Hall at a Chilian port. Mr. Kettle: Did you' know anything about the insurances on ,the ship's cargo and freight?— No. - Have you had any. communication with the owners since you took command?— Yob, by letter. Tho correspondence consisted of the orders for the ship's movements and directions on various points. ■ Witness stated that some letters had also been received bv him in regard to the voyage on which he last embarked, but these were missing. They had apparently been left on board tho ship. . Ho had also lost some articles of jewellery, etc. His correspondence had been kept in a sot of drawers in his cabin. Mr. Skelton (to witness): Are you not aware that early on tho morning of February '27 your officers were, very apprehensive of danger?— No. Do you know that'during the temjxirary absence of yourself tho second officer ordered the man at tho wheel to change the course a couple of points?— No. I never heard it till now. _ Did you not give orders the day before, during the second mate's watch, to have the boats cleaned out in case you went ashore? —No. I ordered the boats to- be cleaned out as they were full of coaldust. Did you say the boats would bo wanted during the, night?— Certainly not. Is it a fact, that during I"riday night ; or early on Saturday morning you were under the influence'of liquor?—No; certainly not. Mr. Mays: What .was the value of tho ship? ... Witness: Anything, between £5000 and £8000..

Henry Richard. Spence, acting' Collector of Customs for the port of Auckland, said .that on the loth instant he sent a cable to the managing owner of tho Forrest Hall,: Liverpool, ana on the' following day received" a reply saying that there was an insurance of £8500 on the -hull, and £1000 on tho freight, owners' risk. In reply to a cable which he sent to tho, consignees at Valparaiso, he was advised that tfie-cargo was insured for £1750. and advances for £1150. Addresses of Counsel. Mr.. Heed, addressing the .Court,, said, the captain had taken the blame on himself. He did riot know whether the Court wanted him to deal with the suggestions thrown out tliat his client: had deliberately run the ship ashore for the .purpose of getting the' insurance: All he coula say was that if the captain had done this he had:d6ne it iu tho most stupid manner that could be conceived; Mr. : Mays said he had never -made, any such' suggestion.- . Mr. Heed: If I -understand my friend the Crown does not-suggest any mala fides. Mr, Settle: That":is so.. . . Mr. ltecd': -'Well, I need not trouble .to deal with that part of it 1 -at all.. Counsel, went, oil to_. say that as regards navigation, tho captain admitted that he had . committed an error of. judgment, but what he (counsel) wanted the Court to take into consideration, was that the captain was seriously ill, .which circumstance affected: his judgment: 'Had' Captain Collins been in his proper senses he would never have, goite, so.pear,:th?',land. Mr. Kettle " pointed' diit that .the'.Court had had no medical evidence as to the captain's condition. ~ ' . Mr. lteed, in reply, said the only medical evidence that coiikh have- been given would have been. from observations of the captain when he was ill. Ho asked the Court when coming to its decision to tako : the ill-health of the captain at the time into consideration. ' .

Mr. Mays said this was tho first case ever heard of by nautical men of a ship going ashore on a weather shore in calm weather and in broad daylight. This was an aspect of the matter which could not be ignored. The captain, it seemed to him, had most certainly neglected every precaution which it was incumbent on bim to have taken. He.lot her go straight ahead for tho North Island. He contended that the evidence showed sheer neglect to take, tho necessary precautions. The Finding. The Court, after retiring for'a quarter of an hour, brought in, an unanimous. fim 1 - ing. ■ They found it very difficult indeed to understand why the captain put tho vessel 011 the tack he did when ho had made up his mind to go, either, through Cook Strait, or to the. extreme. south of New Zealand, but they, were further of opinion that the evidence would not justify them in finding that tho wreck was due to th'e deliberate act of tho master. They found,- however, that tho wreck wns due to his grossly negligent navigation—viz., in standing to tho. land longer than he was justified.m doing, and in omitting to take soundings, or any. steps whatever, to ascertain the depth of wator. They further found that the chief oilicor was in 110 way to blame for tho wreck; on tho contrary, they were of opinion that, if tho captain had adopted tho chief officer's suggestion shortly, before the vessel struck, in all probability the disaster would never have occurred. They were also of opinion that the ship was seaworthy, fully manned arid equipped in accordance witn tho law. They ordered that tho master's certificate bo suspended for two years, and that ho pay the costs of the inquiry. As regards the return of the mate's certificate, they would leave that to the Customs Department, because they understood that would bo the subject of a special investigation or inquiry. ilr. Reed, observing that tho punishment imposed on his client was a very severe ono, askod whether tho Court would authorise tho issuo of a mate's certificate to Captain Collins, who had a wifo and family dependent on him. Mr. Kettle said Mr. Reed could apply to tho Marino Department,. which could refer the matter to the Court, and the Court would report. They wero not at all satisfied that the state of the captain's health has been such that he was unable, to look after tho ship.