THE KAIPARA FINDING

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 741, 14 February 1910, Page 5

THE KAIPARA FINDING

: .-:-■■'■' ■ .♦.- -..: —-';..'■/.'/ > STRONG WORDS. AUCKLAND BOARD CENSURED. . : AVHY NO SURVEY ? V ' ■ (By Teleeranh.—Press ;• Association.) Auckland, February 12. ' The nautical Court of Inquiry into the stranding' of the, Kaipara: in Eangitoto .Channel on January . 14■ .■ assembled ■'."■ this morning to deliver' its- finding. Mr. Kettle, S.M., presided, and; with., him were Captains Post and Reed. . ,Before the .finding was delivered, <MrV Ridings • stated that he' would. ask■•'; permission to have the inquiry.rcop'enbd,: in": order that fresh information,, which, had just come to hand, should he placed before the Court. The information . in question related:, to, the striking of the s.s. Sierra, as she,left the.harbour,' in the same vicinity as the Kaipara struck. Mr. Kettle agreed to this evidence' being admitted. J. ; M. Brigham, secretary.-of therHarbour Board,, was then recalled; and further ; ■„' Mr. .Ridings: On January 31, during the course of; this inquiry, I. asked you; Mr., Brighaih, did -you'.'- remember, any other vessels than" the Du'quesne and the Wainiate touching bottom; in the Eangitoto Channel.. ■.-. . •■Witness: Yes, and t replied that there was the reported touching of the Marere and/the Sierra.. : ";V'. ■-'/■;;/; /;/':': ; v ;Mr..Kettle: No, the Sierra has/never heforo. been mentioned. : ..: /;, w -1- ■ Witness: I had the paper .referring to the.incident;here in Court with me. ■! ■. Mri; Kettle: This is, the very,first Iwe have heard'of it. The. Court should have had' this information.;'before.;;/ '.'.;. ''\;i y. : .Another Striking: The'Siefra.////: . /The witness, under examination;/ then proceeded',to relate the;circumstances of 'the',", reported striking! of: the San Francisco steamer -, Sierra ilr Rangitoto; Channelj and read 'the report: oh/,the, matter which had'been made, at the time'to'the board by: Captain Duder;. .; : ,;■'.' '■,;;' ''.-; •'. ■ ■Mr. Kettle: Was shipping, notified; of 'this?. ;;',;;, ; ,k;, '/':;/ v."'"/ Witness:. The :Marine Department, .was informed, and. numerous applications were , made to have. the. harbour surveyed; by ■H.M.S.; Penguin. .The ..board,'- however, was informed th'at.the.ship 'was 1 engaged .on'-/more 'importahV wbrk' on 'the.,Basi Coast. •'.'■ Witness'.here/-produced ,a,.reporl ; from Captain. Duder, urging n; survey;pi the', harbour.. ' ':";;/.'''; '■•■"'■.; ■'.'-■'.. '■"! ■■' 'Mr:-Kettle': Yes;' there/ is'-.nbidoubl ■ that) the.'.harbourmaster/has . been constantly urging on the board; the ;need-fbi ■ a survey of:: : the harbour.; .':''.'- , 1 .',:'. .Witness:: Yes,' that;.is, so.: , \.///,'- : -\:./ ;;Captain Duder, harbourmaster, was alsc 'recalled.. ":■:■'■■'.■ '.;' '■■■■■'-:\"-::;'^ : , .'./' /Mr. accident :tb'the Sierra in. the vicinity: of the. spot whert . tho Kaipara struck?—"No, it: is ,100 ft north-west of /it." -\ /. ~/; . / '.--//:;/'■ . .• • Captain - Sainty; giving: evidence,, stated that 'lie, remembered/the: Sierra-"striking about seven' 'years <■■■ ago.' ..Tho'/ship'was . drawing 23ft.. of water,'and he' was;pilot : rag .her. at-theHime;—He ; took-his- coursi . by /the' red/.huoys./andlthe/.ship/strucl somewhere..in..the vicinity, i.of;;where tht •• Kaipara was;injured.';/;'v,./ .-V:; ; ::.',;;;- : 'Mr.'Kettle: said that/the/new/evidehct given did not.lead: the Court to.considei i that there: was- any. necessity'/to..recori- ■ sider the decision that it had alreadj unanimously come to. -, It/only, confirmee :■ their opinion. that.-there'was urgent ncec ' for ■ fk? -. surveying of'.the harbour, i/. H( / then proceeded to /'give the!:full/finding !' : of the. Court,; of: which'the following'j: \a/ summafyrri-V-/':;/;■'£•'/-,'.;• ; :'''o ■/.'■';/'-I-,'■' i ; , ; '.'Erroneous: and. ,Misleading Chart'/' :'• ■' ■: "That ;the • s.s/- Kaipara did not sustaii ~ any,.' injury to her. hull", while' ; she la; _ :alongside - the i,western; side of the', rail ) way : wharf, ,or. while she'..was being taker t from the wharf up' the stream ..by. Captaii p, Sergeant,.;/deputy-harbourmaster,'' ;'oi January 14 last., That.the vessel lefthei 5 berth-onJanuary,,l4, /shortly/;after' twt o'clock in the afternoon;'. and proceeded to leave the port, for/London.with':- ths \ full consent'and npprovnl'of the harbour ', master, and • his ■-' deputy; ; that When' 7 Bht '■■ left, the wharf, the/ebb-(Spring):,tide Wai ' within an hour or so of its lowest';, thai when she-left-the..wharf she was", to th( ', knowledge' of; the master, : the harbour master, - and ; his'' deputy, ; . drawing' 26ft ' forward and 27ft.-aft., . .to starboard, of about seven degrees whiol ' i inoreaoed her' draught by about 14 inches /• that, tho list.did'not :impair the vessel'i • seaworthiness')) that ■ nbV-warhing . of/ani , suspected;danger/in the channel,-or.direc tion, or suggestion of .any',kind, ; wai ■ given 'or made. to. the. master by' the liar ■,-' bourmaster.'or.iliis; deputy before/the ,'ves v eel left; that, in-navigating his-vessel , the' : master .used, was/guided tiy, : and re -.; lied ,on the. latest .Admiralty/ chart; -that ;'.-: when;:the'.vessel:'was in.ithe :fairway,;b: • Rangitoto Channel,' .'and'/almost abreas :' uf - the /.; wosteru/' luiiiinous'../'biioy j shown :■■■■. .on./, the chart,-, she'/ 'strticl .;- a'-, submerged•'. and' ; uncharted.v.rocl j ph.;her.'.'Btarbonr<l:■ side,:, causing/extcn , : sive 'and- serious, injury/to her,-plates S' that,;the .'Admiralty ;chart shows; fthi > dopth of: water (low spring, tides)" at 5: '.'; fathoms at tlie;place' where; the ,/vesse 0 sjxuck,.. but caretul/surveys (made/sinci -._[ the casualty):have'-disclosed the fact tha :"■■ the depth,of;voter,there, over the'rocki '.■ patch, is'only .25 feet .at: low springs; tha" il; the evidence .'has, disclosed,-;'and : it'-is ad :, mitted by .the, harbourmaster, that, tin western'luminous buoy/is not l in''the.posi ;.'! tion shown on tho Admiralty;chart, bu is at'least'two or'.three;hundred'feet,"o; '~ one. hundred yards more to -tho: north if west; that;:the'- master of , tho..Kaipan d .was: not'aware; nor had ho any. reason b ,} suspect .that the information appearini on the chart was erroneous and- mislead • - ing: that the, course.taken by; thomnstc: '" as laid'down by him oh. the chart' wa: ts .(having regard to .the information, on thi io- chart on which : he 'was fully; justified: ii „ relying, and '• the -absence ,ot :any/-inwar( ~ or outward-bound vessels): a proper ah( safo, course.,.As before stated,' the; mas l ?' ter'.was .not' aware/of- the errors'in: thi ;e chart before referred .to, ahdif .'-.his/TCS a sel had/not -struck' the submergod/au< j : uncharted: rock,which,.was .lurkihgjn thi ■ fairway,' she ..would /have /got..-: safel; ° to rsea. bey'iiidiMthe^harbour^.limits .No Fault of Captain; Cornwajiy/ '•"' ;■ The' casualty.-whj -Snot','in-,'any /wa; le. caused by .'. the .: default, . carolesshcss ll negligent, navigation," or -.' any .-, brror- o in; judgment oh the part of the 1 , master,: bu 3 was due- entirely .'.to , the .erroneous ant misleading, information "in the chart a; 10 to—(1) the depth of. the water:,at thi x spot where the. vessel'struck! (2) theposi tion of .the,western 'luminous buoy; ~im ' (3) the absence of : any'.warning bn/thi chartof ,the : ,:existence.of/a rocky' patel „. at the place where the,vessel, struck. Th( "' Collector. of. Customs; stated; during : thi t - inquiry that;he made no charge, or. an] -t kind'against Captain Cornwall. We an r- sw'er the' amended question submitted' t( a . the, Court by the Collector under rule No ■ ' 11 as 'follows:— ','!i,'. v ./'..;'-> a- ■'-/'.(o) Question: Was the stranding of,; „. the .Kaipara caused by any default; • negligence,''or, error-'-in .-judgment on: : "• the part, of .the master or. other person/ °- '■. or persons on vessel? ;, ; ;y. Answer: No.// ' '/'';/-/ c- (b) Question: .Did- the-master makfl, sufficient endeavours to ascertain tho'; : cause of the list of the ; vessel -to star-,. re board before leaving the; wharf on" in January 14. ■',''.. . ... ,/.,v/ ', s,' ■' ' Answer: Yes.■'.'. •■'"'•■."/ '/: '-."•■:.'-.'- ; 1.-; iy (c) Question: Did the list contributo: a- to the. casualty? ,;.:,; . ~ /.'. -f" Answer:. N0... ■ '''/,.■'.'. '.; ?° "The Court suggests that it wa9.one,pl •B tho first duties-rprbbablythoraostimpor. " tant. duty-^f.,every harbour master, on trusted with tho ninhaeement; and control of a harbour under, and.-; subject to, th« provisions of tho Harbour's; Act, 1900, tt ;. cause a.tboroughaudreliable survey.tob( re made of the principal waterways Zbi ih ohannols within tho .'harbour limits, and leading to. tho; wharves, docks, etc.', along which waterways or channels shipowners "j aro invited or entitled to send, their ships, and that masters of'vessels'should be furnished withncenrate and! reliable charts it (containing the; best, up-to-date, inforoi mation that'can be procured as toi depth - "»i watet. hiddan dangers lurking in the

lirwayS, position of lights and buoys, and ; ;' uch. other. useful and necessary inform ,;,- lation),. so'.that they may:, be ; able to : •.;; avigate their, vessels.in and out, of.- port■'}:. .'.( rith confidence and safety. '■''.-■ -.;,';; "According to the evidenco before:us' ■ no.-; : 'yol uch Burvey.has beenmado, of-the Aupk-;/.-.;■_ and Harbour by, or under the direction ■•-, ;:iy f, tho Auckland Harbour Board; ': It ■-/-;•; ,ppears from the evidence that; the rocky ;j';.: latch, on which the Kkipara. struck,: is, -,-f a,the : fairWay of the Rangitoto Channeli Crjv hat the patch is not shown on the-Ad-. % niralty charts or referred to in the New .-.'.- ■'•;v Jealand Pilot . nor; Nautical'.'Almanac';;.;-■*. hat-the depth of; water over, the; patch ; 'y : y it 1 low -water; spring tides 'is not .more .-;".!';• ;hau- 25 - feet, whereas -the> Admiralty.Vl .--" : hart shows a depth.of.3ol .feet, low *&ter .';■'' iprlng tides; that the' luminous .buoy on;;, : ; he western ■ side of the Rangitoto Chan-.; "■ iel': is- 300 feet, or .100 .yards further, .;,;; :o the north-west, of its .'position as shown ,■';',; in the Admiralty- chart. -.','. :•' '::\'-- ; : ;; W ; the Auckland 'Board: Plain English; ~-V;; "The. evidence satisfies us that-it-was, '-■;;'- ;n all probability,'' on- this;;:sdmtv; rocky'; ;'. latch,that !tho. Kench. warship :Dunuesne ;/,; then a modern vessel) touched ill. 1890—,;':.4 i'wenty. years : ago. Thei copper sheathing:. -'H Found by the-diver" on one.'of the rseks ,-;.■: is,;in our opinion, !strong evidence:that' '- the, warship. grated the; rock when;' leav- ■;r; the harbour at: low, springs'nriden'the' -V: juidance of the Harbour Board's: pilot - . md drawing about 26ft; We are also con*-:';':-";* vinced that the s.s.Waimate touched th« ; "; same, patch;.when : leaving'the, harbour.:ir ,;;. ■:■;. July, 180i,'at. low. springs, and. drawini':;-:,': about; 25ft/ 9in. -. '. ,■"'.; ; ; .; : 'v'-;; ; -.;: ." "It was not until the Kaipar'a:strnck:- ; :- - the :same rocky.,- patch; and became '::':■'■'■■'(■:■: ii- stranded in-;the 'fairway-of Eangitoto..- ~,, , .Cluinnol that a'proper search' was. - " : - ; made, 'and the .tnie'position.and ex- J ;-',':: .tent,of' the .patch ascertained by- the .' -. : .master.of the Kaipara (Captain. Corn-■• ,'i>' . • wall) and those who assisted him; The :'..,■. , .correspondence -and minutes.'-of; tho V;.,; •board .relating 'to, the 1 -Du'quesne' and : ■'•; v;'. iJVaimate-incidents,'.and the necessity.' ; :'-;v. ■ior a survey of the harbour speak for)-';? : '! '■ jthemselves arid,-, in. our ' opinion,. jus- C ".- :tif) ; .us: in;-saying; that,-, in regard -to-' •;■■ ~the all-important matter of the survey:' •',';■'. :'-,of. .the-Auckland -Harbour, masterly . V: : ' -inactivity-: and supinehess seem/'to "be;'.'-.' ; the .prominent-characteristics'of the ■ • •'..■ conduct, of theboard." : .y:> i:;/^.^; : ::; : x:'y Kettle-in':conclusion remarked,that ■ "-'. : it was rather, remarkable, that the evi- -'' dence in regard to the :accident, to' the ,v: San Francisco .mail■ steamer-Sierra- had'' ',- only",been disclosed at-'the' last stage o£ ; ■■-'■ the proceedings,' and after-the inquiry - had y really. closed. The only excuse for ■" ''■ its non-producaon,wja because-it had not- - been: asked: for, and it ; was not asked-; for •■;"'; because it ; was not known that the ship -r. .'..;.':■'; y- ;: y: ■'■"'■; >■ : ;; .v.'. *.■.;.•; Court at : theVEni; : S.'^^;> i'' I £; reEar , d '°' th *question of .casts'-Mr., ; ; Kettle> added- that the'master of • the" Kai- i V para had been the only-party named '.to' : '' the inquiry. ; The Harbour Board' had> : ' not-been made: a party to>;the proceed--' lngs.;, - Captain',,-Cornwall- ..had - :com» T '' through it r all with clean hands,:; .could not ..be. asked; to; pay any -of costs of, ,the inquiry,; and thei Marine De-,-i'' partment. would therefore v have': to - be'.'j asked, to: pay;vthem.-- Captain", Cornwall;;:';: .and his-officers-would-be; handed' back ; '-:- their..certificates,',and.-they, deserved, to : '& be.complimented on;the:mannerin which--they had extricated; their ship from th»"' '■ trap ,into. which ,it -Had -fallen.:;- v ■ \f : \ : -i The conclusion'.of.'ithe-Court's'finding*-' was met with: a loud outburst .of apnlauss''.; - from-the .crowded. Court-room':and -thii'--' -lasted'for some ; moments; -"This ismiiK- '■■"■■ unseemly;; you-are not' in a ttotre; b«t - ' in>.;.a ■' Court of .Justice,'', .commented:, th* -:'■: president-af the : Court, but although"th« :-- demonstrative method of.approval*ceased/'.'/ Captain Cornwall: was'.'surrounde'd:'by : a':' l ' large.number of. those .present,; and was--.-'-the -subject of,- much 'hand-shaking' and "'•; ■■ heartily; congratulated on ; the outcom* ' of the .inquiry.; ;'.".;'■■':;; : 7;.. :•-.-'■.'- ■-,; ' ,';' v■';: