BUMPED THE WHARF

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1350, 30 January 1912, Page 4

BUMPED THE WHARF

FERRY BOAT'S MISHAP,

the magisterial inquiry.

WHO WAS TO BLAME?

THE COURT DECLINES TO SAY.

On November 23 last, tho s.s, Awaroa, belonging to tho Wellington Harbour Steam Ferry Company, was in collision with tho Wellington Ferry Wharf and breastwork, and she sustained material damage. An inquiry .'into tho circumstances surrounding the accident was held yesterday before Dr. A. M'Arthur, S.M., with whom Captain Grey, master mariner, and Mr. James Darling, engineer, eat as assessors. , Mr. E. R. Brabazon appeared for the Marino Department, Mr, I'. Levi for Captain Watchlin, of tho Awaroa, and Mr. T. Young for Thomas Baillio, engineer of tho vessel. Mr. R. M. Watson watched the proceedings on behalf of the ownera of tho vessel. The .Orders to the Engine-room, Mr. Brabazon, in opening the case, said that tho real question which ho wished to place before tho Court was whether tho collision was duo to tho wrongful act or default of Thomas Baillie, engineer, in going full speed ahead instead of full speed astern, contrary to the master's orders. . Captain Wntchlin, master, of tho Awaroa, said that at the time of tho occur, fence on November 23 he was on a trip from Day's Bay to tho city. When approaching tho wharf, ho rang "Stand by" on tlio-bridge telegraph, and shortly afterwards "Slow ahead. His next order was "Stop," but, finding that the vessel had not sufficient way on to bring her to the wliarf, ho rang "Slow ahead" again, and then "Stop." As the vessel still had a little way on after tho last order, witness rang' "Full astern," and, as she commenced to go ahead, h© repeated the order, and, in an endeavour to save tho situation, he shouted down tho speaking tubo to the engineer that the engines wero going tho wrong way. Almost immediately afterwards the steamer collided with the' wharf. Tho weather was calm at tho time, and the sea smooth. Tho engineer had been with him for about two months prior to the date of tho accident. "The Engineer Has Twice Disobeyed," Mr. Brabawm: Have you always found him careful in taking orders from the bridge P , Captain Watchlin: No; the engineer has twice disobeyed orders from the bridge. Mr. Young objected tu this. Ho contended that both question and answer were immaterial to tho present inquiry. His' Worship, however, ruled that the evidence was admissiblo. To Mr. Levi: Ho had made an entry in tho diary as to the engineer wrongly interpreting orders. Witness was now master of the schooner Falcon, having given notico to the owners of tho Awaroa before the accident. To Mr. Young: He did not come in (to tho wharf) on the samciorders every time. Mr. Young: Thoso were tho, orders ivhich Mr. Bnillie says that he received:— "Stand by," "Half ahead," "Slow Ahead," "Slop," and "Half ahead." Mv last order after "Stop* was "Full astern." Continuing, witness Btatod that his order to go "Full astern" had not been given once, but twice. He did not think that the engineer would wilfullj misinterpret orders—tho thing was probably an accident. The Awaroa did not answer to her helm well in rough weather, but, in calm weather, she was a good etcercr. Mr. Young: Haven't they had an expert to look at her? Didn't eho loop tlio loop onco? 1 Witness': An expert was engaged to sea her in regard to hor steering in. bad weather. Mr. Young: Have you over found tin telegraph to stick P Witness: No, it never did bo with me. Reverting totho alleged disobedience of orders bv the engineer, Captain Watchlin stated that the first occasion was at Day's Bay. On that occasion witness hail l>een ready to leave tho wharf, and rang "Full astern," but at onco noticed that the engines were going "Full ahead." Uo let them go for some time like that, and then gave "Full astern" again, and tho vessel backed out. The second occasion when orders wero not carried out was at lionajiay. On that occasion they were'at tho wharf ready to leave; tho order was given "Full ahead," and the vessel went "Astern." Witness at once spoke to Mr. Baillie through the voice tube, and Hi® engines, were reversed. Mr. Baillio then said something to witness about (h« engines priming, but the latter did not understand what woe meant. What About tho Helen Denny? i Mr. Younff: Have you over been in any collisions before? Witness: No; this is the first I've ever boon in. Mr. Young: What about bumping th# Helen Denny P Witness replied ho would liko to explain this, and gave a short account of how he had bumped tho barquo when endeavouring to pick her up in rough weather. ' To Mr. Watson: That accident was not duo in any way to the vessel's steering gear being defective. Captain M'lCenzie, of tho auxiliary schooner Huia, whose vessel was berthed at tho wool jetty on November 23 last, stated that ho noticed the Awaroa coming up .to the wharf, and ho had observed tho master ring "Fiji astern." Tho master next called out, but did not ring again. To Mr. Levi: If tho order had bceq obeyed the accident would not have happened. To Mr. Young: Witness oould not so# tho dial of tho telegraph on the Awaroa but could see by tho motion of tho enptain's arm and by tho top of tho Olograph that tho captain rang "Full astern." Engineer's Evidence, Thomas Baillie, engincor of tho A wo., roa at tho time of the collision, stated that, when he was approaching the Fornr Wharf, his orders were: "Stand b.v.' "Half speed." "Slow." "Half ahead." Then lie received a very , quick "Ful' astern" and the vessel bumped tho wharf, and then came the order "Stop." Subsequently ho got several rings to manoeuvre tho vessel to tho wharf. Tile engines were working "Full astern" when tho vessel buinpod the wharf. To Mr. Levi: Ho said nothing about the priming of tho engines in connection with this accident. To Mr, Youngs When ho got the order "Hnlf speed ahead," ho repeated it to tho bridge. Ho next received "Full astern" and repeated that to the bridgo also. All orders pven on the telegraph were repeated. Witness had boen an engineer for 23 years. Ho had a first-class certificate issued in Glasgow in 1891. Ho had never before been in a collision. Continuing, witness denied that Captain Watchlin had shouted to him through tho voice tube. Ho also denied any knowledge of tho affair at Day's Bay. when he was said to havo misinterpreted orders. Regarding tho occurrence at Ttona Buy, he explained that, owing to the rough weather, tho engines had hoen priming badly, Mr. T, Young called Captain Jonoo, master of the Pilot. Finding of the Court. In delivering tho decision of the Court, Dr. M'Arthur said: "The Court while having no doubt, ns hi what was the eaupo of tho accident, is not prepared to' say that it was due to the •wrongful act' of the engineer. The Court has the evidence of Captain Mlvcnzio before it but, whilst not doubting its truthfulness, it would not like to condemn any man on such slight testimony. The conflict is between the Master and the engineer as to whether a certain order was givon. While not attaching blame to aiiyono of not pretending lo bo able to say who was responsible, th« Court is compelled to answer the question submittal to it in tlio negative.