MARAROA INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 6

MARAROA INQUIRY

THE CAPTAIN'S STORY UNABLE TO FIND HIS POSITION DAMACE ASSESSED AT £600. An inquiry into the matter of the stranding of the steamer Mararoa about five miles south-east of Pencarrow Heads on February 24 was opened yesterday. Mr. W. G. Kiddell is President of tho Court, and the assessors are Captain H. Johnson and Captain F. Black. j\lr._ V. ft. Meredith represented the Marine Department, and Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldio appeared for Captain ,T. T. Eeid, master of the Mararoa. Tho inquiry is not concluded, and will be continued to-day. Mr. Meredith said that on t,lie night of Friday, February 23, the Mararoa left Lyttelton on her usual run to Wellington. She had 215 passengers aboard. At about 11.20 p.m. she ran into a. dense fog, which was present until the mishap. At 8 a.m. on the Saturday morning tho log showed the vessel to have run 1405 miles. The Mararoa was slowed down, and at 8.30 had gone 146} miles, and the sounding showed 52 fathoms. Just as another sounding was about to be taken, "breakers ahead" was reported, and the stranding followed._ The vessel was pulled off that evening. Ehoderick Patterson, superintending engineer of the Union Company, said that his examination of the vessel had revealed that a number of plates_ were <lented and the stem was slightly scored. On tho starboard side twentyfour plates were damaged and on tho port side twelve. Some of the plates had "started" in the seams. Tlie cost of repairs would be from £600 to £700. A number of rivets had had to he renewed, or the vessel would have a tendency to leak in heavy weather.

To Mr. Kirkcaldie: He had not hoard that the vessel grounded when going up the channel at Lyttelton lately. Captain Reid's Narrative. The master of the Mararoa, .Tames Thomas Rcid, describing the voyage, said that- from the time the fog came on till the time oF thfe stranding he was in charge. Ho kept the Mararoa at full speed till 8 a.m. 011 the Satur-, day morning, and he could then see no light or landmark to take bearings from. He slowed down. and.soundings showed over one hundred fathoms. As a, safeguard, ho nut the vessel six miles ahead of dead reckoning. He continued to go slow till 8.20, nnd changed life course to north-east, which course was maintained till the stranding. He had reckoned on n set to westward from the strong flood tide in Cook Strait. Mr. Meredith: 'Are not tho Cook Strait tides very erratic? Witness: Yes. It'is difficult at times to find nut what they are. Witness said that at 8.30 a sounding showed fiftv-two fathoms, and the vessel was then doing about four knots. Mr. Meredith: You took the risk of making the heads? Witness: No. I intended to stop tho shir> when I got into thirty fathoms. Mr. Meredith: Rut von did not know your position definitely? Witness: No. x Mr. Meredith: Was the hand-lead ready ? Witness: Yes; and a man was standing by. Mr. Mereflitli: Did you take any sounding between 8.80 and tho stranding?

Witness: No. T had given instruct tions to continue the soundings until thirty fathoms was registered. Witness added that the ship struck at 8.47. His intention had been to go slowly ahead from 30 fathoms to 2y fathoms, and if nothing hod thon been seen to put out to The look-out for'ard <*avo t.bo first warning of danger, ealline "Rocks on the starboard how ahead I" The engines were put full speed astern, but the vessel struck. "The Whole Cause of the Accident." Mr. Meredith raised the question of the safety of the passengers. He asked why tho boats, which were got ready, were not swung out. Witness said it was not necessary to do so. The sea was perfectly calm, and there was no landing on the beach. His idea had.been to get the Natono alongside, and if that had been done the passengers and their luggage could have been transferred in an hour. However, tho Superintendent of Marine had objected to the proposal. To Mr. Kirkcaldie: Ho had been at sea for about nineteen years, and he had become connected with the Union Company in 1906. His certificate had never before beon called into question. He had had 110 intention of coming into port 011 the morning of tho stranding. The vessel was going so slowly that silo could liavo pulled up in a little over a ship's length. The whole cause of the accident was that the fog prevented him from finding his distance from land. He had listened for tho fog signal, which he expected to hear when .five or six miles away, and -as he heard none _tha.t fact had strengthened his opinion that he was still some distance out.

It was explained that the foe signal did not commonco blowing till 9.10 a.m.

Other evidence of a detailed nature was called, and Mr. Kirkcaldic then addressed the Court.

Mr. Kirkcaldie contended that Captain Jloid had shown every eare and prudence, and had endeavoured to find his bearings. The hearing was then adjourned till 10.30 this morning to enable certain documents to bo produced, and the chief engineer to bo called as a witness.