TONGARIRO WRECK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2882, 21 September 1916, Page 6

TONGARIRO WRECK

INQUIRY ENDS VESSEL ALONE WORTH £250,000 WHOSE THE RESPONSIBILITY? FINDINGS OP THE COURT DUE TO-DAY Tho inquiry into the wreck of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Tongariro was concluded in Wellington yesterday, and the Court will give its findings to-day. The Court consists of Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. (president), Captains Johnson and Reid. The Marine Department was represented by Mr. V. R. Meredith, the New Zealand Shipping Company by Mr. M. Myers, Captain Makepeace (master of the vessel) hy Mr. A. Gray, K.C., and Chief Officer Ballard by Mr. H. Buddie. Evidence was given by Thomas Henry Chudley, marine superintendent in New Zealand for tho Shaw, Savill Company. Captain Ohudley stated that he had had. experience as a master on the East Coast. Mr. Gray read to the witness Captain Makepeace's evidence relating to the course ho sot on the day of the disaster. "Do you," bo asked, "consider that a safe and prudent course to set in fine weather?" Captain Chudley: Yes, in good weather. Do you know if it is usual for a mastor of a ship to take bearings himself, or to leave it to his senior officer?— "That depends on circumstances." Question of Trusting Officers. Would you, if you had confidence in your officer?—"l \would have to know him exceedingly well, and to have proved him." Suppose you had had experience of him on a voyage from England through tho Panama. Canal, and hacl noticed that ho was very attentive, to duty, and particularly on tho day in question, would; you consider you had proved him?—" No. Not sufficiently for my idea of things." What is tbe usual question to tho mato when the master comes up on dook? —"As to whore the ship is." Is the question, "How is she going down?" a. usual one?—" That all depends on the particular master." Well, if the captain asked that question, and tho mato replied ''All right," would you tako it that the captain was justified in believing that the vessel was on her course? —"Yes." Mr. Meredith: So you -say the responsibility is with tho master of a snip ? Captain. Chudley: The final responsi. bility. And you say Bull Rock is looked upon as a dangerous part of tho coast? —"Not looked upon as, but 'is' dangerous." Would yon expect a bearing to be taken off Portland Light?—" Yes." < Would you sco that it was taken?— "Yes." Also, you would bave been on the look-out to pick up that red sector at tho time it should show up?—" Yes." Mr. Meredith: What are tho insurances on tho ship? Captain Chudley: They aro in Londou, and I don't know what they arc. What was tho ship worth? —"I should say £250,000." Mr. Gray: That is war price. Captain Chudley: No, normal. You could not replace her to-day for that or anything liko it. Fishermen From Tokomaru Bay. Georgo B. Bullock, manager in Wellington of the New Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd., deposed that Captain Makepeace had been thirteen years in tho service of tho company as officer and master, and had a i very good record as a capable and prudent man. Robert S. Lewes, master of tho Pakcha, agreed with other witnesses that tho course set by Captain. Makepeace was safo and prudent. John Harper Porter, owner of a fishing launch at Tokomaru Bay, stated that he was seven miles out off Koutumii Point on August 30 (the day of the wreck). Mr. Gray: When you to anchor, was anything unusual noticed? Witness: Yes; wo could not get the bottom. Usually fifty fathoms will do, but not this day. Then you proceeded to fish? —"Yes. We put the lines down, but wo could not get bottom. Usually thirty-fivo fathoms will do, but we could not got bottom with 100 fathoms of line and double sinkers. . . . We wero unable to fish, and went back to shore." There was undoubtedly a- set?— "Yes." Have you ever experienced such a set before on that coast? —"No." Do you know that tho Westralla arrived thero before her time that day?—"l heard so.!' • Richard Houghton Porter, a brother of the previous witness, also stated that there was a strong south-westerly set on August 30. Mr. Gray read a telegram from a Justice of tho Peace at Tokomaru Bay stating that ovidence had been taken there of Captain Plummer, harbourmaster, which was to tho effect that there was a strong south-south-west sot on August 30, and that tho Westralia, which usually takes 2 hours 20 minutes to Tun down from East Cape to Tokomaru Bay, took only two hours. The Questions For the Court. Mr. Riddell said the Court desired further evidence as to the position, of the vessel off- Table Cape. It proposed to Tecall the master, chief officer, and fourth officer. Captain Makepeace, when _ recalled, said he did not ask the chief officer how far he passed off Table Cape. Ho should think thai; any set operating at Tokomaru Bay would be felt down the coast. Captain Johnson: Did you have any cargo on the foredeok of the vessel to interfere with the compass? Captain Makepeace: No. Do you consider it a grave error that no hearing was taken at Table Capo?— "I do consider it a grave error." Chief Officer Ballard was then placed on oath again. Ho said that he had been expecting the captain to come up and relievo him on the bridge bft fore the ship picked up the red sectoi on Bull Rock. Arthur James Anjiell. fourth officer, was recalled, and stated that ho could aire no idea when tho vessel passed Tnl.le Capo. No further ovidence was called and addresses were proceeded to. Tho questions set out for the Court were: (1) What was the cause of thu wreck ? (2) Whether the wreck of the ship was caused by or contributed to by a wrongful act or default of Harry Makeneace, tho master, or any of his officers, or crow? The Advocates Submit Their Arguments. 1 Mr. Gray said that the. cause of the wreck was clear. The ship struck Bull ' Rock, and became a total loss. As to t,li» responsibility for tho wrcclc, he submitted that Captain Makepeace i could not he blamed. Ho set prudent courses. That was settled beyond controversy by the evidence. It was clear

j now that tho ship had been travelling - at a speed greater than the log indicated. The acceleration of her speed, and tho deflection of her course were both due to tho strong set. Captain Makepeace had, out of care, altered tho ship's course a little beforo tho striking, but it was unfortunate that he had "dono so, for bad the Tongariro r;one along unaltered in her course there would have occurred tho happy accident of a big vessol steering safely .inside Bull Rock instead of outside it. A<j to tho failure to take bearings, te submitted that the captain was entitled to rely, ou the chief officer. Having regard to all the circumstances, the Court could not hold that Captain Makepeace was guilty of (in tho words of the question) "any wrongful act or default." Mr. Meredith then addressed the Court. He said that there were only two persons who could bo connected with tho blame —the master and the ohief officer. The chief officer, without doubt, had neglected to take bearings at two points where should have been taken. As to the captain, ho was in charge of a valuable ship and cargo. He set a course which was to take him two miles off Bull Eock, • a dangerous place on the coast. Evidence had been given by masters that they considered - tho course safe, but they all put in the proviso that it was safe only if the rock was passed in daylight, or if tho ship's position was definitely ascertained bj;-checking. Tho oaptain took no check. •' "Master or Mate?" * U was the captain's duty, Mr. Meredith continued, to see that the ship's position w-as definitely ascertained. Evidence had been given as to a set. That set was on a portion of a coast considerably north of tho place wheretho Tongariro got into trouble. Moreover, it was to counter the operations of such unforeseen things that it was inoumbont on a master to check his ship's position. In his address Mr. Buddlo remarked that largely there were only two questions—as to tho responsibility of tho captain or tho chief officer. Ho said that on tho trip down there wero no circumstances to suggest that extra precautions wero necessary by tho chief officer. A wise course had been set, and tho chief officer had adhered to it. Ho passed Table Cape in the ovening light, and tho ship seemed to be its proper distanco off. Ho suspected nothing wrong when passing Portland Light. He had not, beforo the Court, attempted to dodge responsibility. The Court might take, into consideration his frankness, his manliness, and his honesty in the witness- Ibox. So had made no attempt to conceal anything, and no mean effort to shift blame on to anyone else. He was respected and valued by his company, he was revered by his orow, he had shown himself willing to bear responsibility, and that was the tjypo of man who was wanted as a sea captain. Ho was but thirty-threo years of ago, married, and on the threshold of' his career. AA r as the promising career of such a man to bo blighted? Mr. Riddoll said the Court Voidd review the evidence, and at 10 a.m. today announce its findings.