STRANDING OF. THE TARAWERA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 767, 16 March 1910, Page 7

STRANDING OF. THE TARAWERA.

CONTROVERSY AS TO THE SPOT. (By Teleeraph.—Press Association.) ' Napier, March 15. "When reading the preface to Mr. Nelson's pamphlet," says Captain Lake, harbourmaster, in his .report presented to the Napier Harbour Board to-day, "I noticed that he had a paragraph referring to the Tarawera mishap which reads as follows:—'I am informed' by. seafaring men in responsible positions who were eye-witnesses .that the Tarawera was not stranded on Auckland Rock, but on a shoal within the breakwater harbour. If that is the case the survey made by Mr. Marchant is evidently not accurate at the present time.' "Now sir,'' continued Captain Lake, "this .is an absolute untruth, as the ship was as nearly on the pinnacle of Auckland Rock as it was possible to bo. This can he' proved by the signed and sworn depositions of the master and officers now in possession of the Marino Department. As the Aucklnud Rock lies to the north of the Breakwater Harbour limit the vessel could not, therefore, have been within that limit, and there is no other shoal to the north of tho wharves excepting the foul ground around Auckland Rock. This is marked by buoys, gazetted and approved-by the Marine Department. The statement made casts an unfair retleotion upon the board's officials,' myself in particular, as I am responsible to the board for information upon these matters, and I trust that you will refute them." The letter was received.