THE MANAROA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1734, 26 April 1913, Page 5

THE MANAROA.

STRUCK FLOATING OBJECT.

NO FAULT OF CAPTAIN'S,

An inquiry into the stranding of tho small steamer Manaroa was hold last evening. Dr. A. M'Artllur, S.M., presided, and tho assessors associated with hiui were Captains Gillespie and Gray. Tho Manaroa struck near tho Beef Barrells Rocks, close to tho western entrance to tho French Pass, oil April 18, when on a voyago from Motitelia to Wellington. Her tonnage was 122 tons gross, and her maximum speed about 7} knots. Mr. M. Myers appeared for the owners of tho vessel (tho Wellington, Havelock, and Motucka Steamship Co.); Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldio for the master of the vessel

(Captain J. G. Gilbertson); and Mr. E. T. \V. Mafclaurin, Acting-Collector of Customs, represented.the Marine Department. Captain Gilbertson stated in evidence that ho left Motucka on Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m., and at 10 p.m. ho took charge of tho wheel. He was then about half-way between Pepin Island and Cape Soucie. About 14 minutes to ono o'clock

tho ship struck forward. Okuri Point was then bearing about east. The impact knocked tho vessel about three-quarters of a point off tho course. Ho kept the vessel going at full speed, and at ono o'clock tho engineer reported that the vessel was making water fast. Tho boat began to go down and down, and to

decreaso in speed, so tho lioats wero got ready for launching. An hour after tho striking ho was informed Hint the files wore out. Eventually the vessel grounded in Ohana Bay. Ho eonld not credit that sho struck a rock, as ho had travelled over tho course so often, -and, after tho striking, had not altered his course., The tlamage to tho vessel could have been caused by a rock or a sunken log. Ho knew that tho steamer Red Pine, carrying, timber, had sunk in tho locality recently. Ho had been trading in Hie locality in all sorts of vessels as master or as mate for between 25 and 30 years. ' Archibald Walker, surveyor to Lloyd's Register in Wellington, stated that ho had visited tho seeno of the striking in tho interests of the insurance companies, and that there was nothing to show whether sho struck a roek or a submerged log. It would not havo required a very heavy floating object to do tho damage—a fairsized spar would do if. In his opinion, it would not 1m a difficult matter to refloat tho ;vessel.

At the conclusion of the evidence, Dr. M'ArCiiur said that tho only question which the Court had to nnswor was as to whether tho accident to tho vessel was due to any error on the part of the captain. The Court was of opinion that tho mishap was not due to a mistake of tho skipper's. They wero of opinion that the vessel came into contact with some submerged floating object.