WRECK OFTHE RAKIURA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2441, 21 April 1915, Page 8

WRECK OFTHE RAKIURA

A MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY CAPTAIN GUILTY OF WRONGFUL ACT A Magisterial inquiry was opeaied in the Magistrate's Court yesterday into the loss of the steamer Rakiura, which was wrecked on Stephens Island near D'Urville Island on April 14. Mr. G. Cruickshank, S.M., was on the Bench, and had associated with him as assessors Captains Grey and Lambert. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for .the Marine Department, Mr. P. H. Putnam for the West Coast Steam Ship Company (owners of the vessel), and Mr. Keith Kirkcaldia for the master of the vessel (Captain James Boyd). Mr. E. 11. Brabazon, Collector of Customs, was also present.

Evidence was given by James Boyd, master of the vessel. He said that the Rakiura was wrecked at about 5 o'clock on the morning of April 14. Witness was of the opinion the vessel struck a sunken rock. The Rakiura was insured for-£1000; £250 in the Commercial Union Office, £500 in the New Zealand Office, and £250 in the Canton Office. At this stage witness marked off his course on the official chart supplied, and this was handed to the Bench. Continuing his evidence witness said that "he left ' the bridge at midnight and when he oame oil again at 4 a.m. the weather was thick. Witness allowed for the tide when he set his course. No sign of land was seen at 4 a.m. and witness rang "dead slow," while at 4.55 a.m., as he thought ta saw breakers, ho stopped the engines, and put the helm "hard a-port." As lie thought he was ten miles off Stephens Island witness did not cast the lead at 5 a.m. Witness did not think the casting of the lead was of any use in ascertaining where he was, as the depth averaged just about the same.

The Court's Decision. In the afternoon Mr. Cruiokshank delivered the decision of the Court as follows:—"111 the opinion of the Court the stranding of the ship was due primarily to an error on the part of the master in not allowing sufficient leeway for the existing conditions, viz., the speed of the ship, the weather conditions, the southerly set of the currents, and the tide. The captain evidently allowed half a point of leeway to clear Stephens Island by two miles, when, as a matter of fact, the place of stranding shows the ship made one point of leeway. The Court further iB of the opinion that when the captain came on deck at 4 a.m. and could not see Stephens Island light or any land, he should, as a practical seaman, have stopped and waited an hour for daylight, seeing he was approaching an exceedingly dangerous coast. As against this we can see that the master might have been misled by the fact of his log telling him lie was still about six miles off D'Urville Island. But we think, even assuming the log distance was correct, that it was an imprudent, thing for him to continue on his course. In not stopping his ship, or hauling her to the north, knowing lie was approaching a dangerous coast, we think the master committed a wrongful act, although not serious enough to cause the Court to' withhold his certificate. Wo think the master is sufficiently punished by being ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry, not exceeding £10. The mate was not in any way to blame, and his certificate is returned to him."