IN NARROW WATERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1164, 27 June 1911, Page 6

IN NARROW WATERS.

1 niVER STEAMERS IN COLLISION MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY. Tho magisterial inquiry touching the circumstances connected with tho collision between the s.s. Wairau and the s.s. Hiniitangi in the Maiuuvatu River on May 1C last, which resulted in. the sinking ot the Wairau,was held at the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Dr. A. W. M'Ar■thur, S.M., President of the Court, and Captains C. F. I'ost and Felix Black, nautical assessors. Mr. A. Gray appeared as counsel for Captain William Mauley, master of the Himitangi, Mr. A. L.' Herdman, tor Captain 10. Shaw, master of the Wairau, Mr. A. Fair for the owner of lie Wairau (Mr. l'erano), .Mr. DalzicU t. m ,° chat!lam Island Fishery Company, Ltd. (owners of tho Himitangi), and Mr. lose for the Marine Department. ■• Mr. Uoso called the evidence. Told by the "Look-out." Examined by Mr. Rose, Oliver Frederick M Jutyre, mate of the s.s. Wairau, stated that on May 1G last he was on duty as look-out man on tho loredeck of the vessel. About 11.30 p.m. tho Wairau crossed the bar, and headed at three-quarter speed up the river. The Himitangi was sighted about a quarter of a milo up, and the Wairau's engines were stopped shortly after. The Himitaugi was showing her ]K>rt light, and kept in the middlo of tho channel till ne.iring Hartley's Bend, when she edged in to tho left. Tho Wairail's engines were then moving just sufficiently to give tho vessel steering way. Dr.. 11' Arthur: Why were tho engines stopped in tho first place?—l don't luiowj I was not on the bridge. To Mr. Rose: Witness did not apprehend any danger of collision till just before the accident. ■Someone called out from the Himitangi, "Show your starboard light!" and a few seconds lator, "Full speed astern!" The vowels were then about a hundred yards below the two red buoys, on the starboard side of the channel. After Hi* collision (ho Wairau was and then was se-nt astern and beached. The Himitangi also drew astern, and afterwards offered assistance. Mr. Hordman: Having regard to ■ the position of the vessels at tho time, if each ship had kept to its own starboard side they would have passed each' other eafely?— Yes. ■•,.-■ And the Wairau was on its own starboard side?—-Yes. . i .. The Rule in Narrow Watorj. William Manley, master of the. s.a' Himitangi, .stated that ho left tho Foxton. Wharf shortly after 11 p.m. on the date of tho occurrence, steaming about I! knots!. The Wairau, when first sighted, was showing her masthead light and green light, and, was still showing her green light, when the Himitangi was rounding the first of the two red buoys at Hartley'* Bend. When his vcsfol was about midway between the two buoys, the red light' came into view, both lights being thea visible, as they ought to be, the distance between tho vessels being (hen about 200 yards. Tho Wairau then showed her green light, and appeared to stand across tho channel. Witness then starboarded Ins helm to give tho Wairau his own green light, when tho latter turned round again and showed her red light; despite his warning cry to "Keep showing your green light!" The Wairau then appeared to strike Hie bank, and turn round, and immediately after struck the Himitangi which was then aground." After his vessel got clear again ho dropped down the river, turned round, aud canio to tho assistance of ihe Wairau. To' Mr. Gray:' There was no written law on the subject, but. thero was an understanding among masters on this river that incoming steamers should await tho dewn steamer wheu passing ■Hartley's Bend. According to Articlo 25 (navigation of narrow waters) ho was right in being on his starboard side wuou he first sighted the Wairau, which was showing the moving light. It was recognised on the river .that, tho .safe., thing to. do was .for (lie incoming- steamer to wait .at the bend. Had he kept on his proper course he would have run down tlio Wairau. Therefore, he went to port, leaving deep water for the shallow side of the river.

Counsel and- Skipper. To Mr. Herdmaii: The striking vessel was tho Wairau. His own vessel's heel was aground, with her nose starting slightly into the river. ' : Is it not a fact that you were coming down at four or five knots when you ran into the Wairau?—No, it is uot a fact. Mr. Herdmau: Did you not have trouble with your engines on tho way down?— No. Did you not narrowly escape colliding with tho Kaitohi just previously f—No. Were you not in collision with the Hinemoa on one occasion? Mr. Gray objected. "My friend might as well ask the witness whether the Hiiiomoa did not collide with him." The objection was upheld, r Mr. Herdman, continuing: You aro sure your engines were all right?— Yes. You did not remark to one of your men: "What's tho matter—engines stuck again?"— No. How do you account for tho behaviour of the Wairau?—That she wouldn't answer her helm in shallow water. Dr. M'Arthur: The captain of tho'Wairnu broke' both tho rule and tho understanding regarding the incoming vessel waiting for the down'nassing vessel?— Yes. ; Evidence of Captain Shaw, Edward Shaw, master of the Wairau, stated in the courso of his evidence that ' he did not go over to tho port side of tho river. Tho Wairau had 110 more than steering-way—from a inilo to a miloand a half per hour. He did not hear any hail from the Himitangi before tho collision, nor could ho sco her green light till within two feet of her. She was approaching so fast that sho could not liavo avoided running into tho Wairau. Is soon as he observed the green light he rang his engine-room for "full speed astern," and had stern way on when tho HimitaiiKi struck them, inflicting an injury 2ft. wide nnd Bft. long. Had the Himitangi kept her original starboard course, the collision would have boon avoided. In witness's opinion the accident was due to the Himitangi .altering: her courso to port. To Mr. Herdman: Captain Mauley's statement that the Himitangi was, aground when the vessel struck was not correct. There wos nn abundance of wntor all round her. Nor was there any truth in Captain Mauley's .statement that the Wairau crossed to the other side of tho river, swung round, and came back and collided with his steamer. Other Evidence, Harry Montague Laneridcc, chief engineer on tho Himitangi, stated that ' when the stennier reached the bend tho engine-room telegraph signalld for "slow. , ' The order "stop!" came two minutes later, and immediately, after the ' bridge rang for "Full speed astern. Ho next becamo awaro that the engines, after showing a tendency to "pull up," were "racing," and he concluded that the , steamer had 'grounded, with her stern up and the propellers elevated. It was about a minute after this that tho collisiou occurred. ~' . Ernest Frederick Graham, lamp-trimmer on the Himitangi, stated that he was at tho wheel on tho night-of tho collision. Ho did not see the Wairau's red , light till just before the mishap. „ At this stage tho Court adjourned till 7.15 p.m. _ . On resuming, tho witness Graham, continuing his evidence, said, in answer to Mr. Gray, that his railing directions were "Starboard" on rounding J lie iirst bnov, and "Starboard" again .when the. lTimitaitßi opened up (he \\ airau s red light The latter order w.is followed immediately by the engine-room telegraph order for "Astern"; tho vessel, therefor*, could not answer her starboard holm, Evidence was nlso Rivon by (a'£tm Rogors (master of tho steamer Gertie), Vincent Palmer (eiu-ir.w on t,ic s.s. Wairau). John Qnirfce. •'»•'>• 'wheelman , on llu> Waii-.ut), Peter Leslie (fireman on ' lhr> Wairau), Arlhur Newton (suneynr), and Arlhur Morris fa passenger on the Himitangi on May Hi). Counsel (hen addressed the Court at some length, after which his Worship , announced that judgment would bo given the following morning.