WRECKED AT CHATHAM ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 294, 31 August 1918, Page 8

WRECKED AT CHATHAM ISLANDS

HIMITANGI INQUIRY "STRUCK AN UNCHARTED REEF" CAPTAIN NOT TO BLAME Tho matter of the wreck of the Himitangi at the Chatham Islands about a month ago was inquired into by a nautical Court yesterday. Tho nnding was to tho effect that the vessel struck a,n uncharted reef on to which sho was carried by a strong set towards t;ho land. The captain was not blamed, awd his 'certificate was returned. Tho Court consisted of Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., Captain George Lamb.irt, and Captain Hooper, R.N.R. (of the Amokura). Mr. J. Prendeville appeared for tho Marino Department, Mr. H. Buddie {or tho master of tho vessel (Captain Charles Thompson), and Mr. T. Neavo for the. owners of the vessel (the Chatham Islands Shipping Company). Evidonce was given by Captain Thompson, who said that the vessel was a steel steamer of 149 tons. The left Wellington on July "I, and arrived at "Waitangi at 7.30 a.m. on July 28. At 10 o'clock that night she left Waitangi for Kaingaroa. Tliu night was moonlit and fairly dear. There was a light south-westerly wind, and squally showers foil. At about 12.15 ho reckoned they were three miles off Somes Point. He then steered N by W. half W., and ran on that course for about half an hour (about four miles). He then steered N.N.E. till 1.30 (for about six miles). This, lie thought, should hava placed tho vessel from two and a half to three miles off Cape Pattison, away from the rocks. As a fact, however, at that lime they struck, and found broken water all round them. At midnight the wind had changed to the west, and there- were frequent, l hough not very heavy, squalls. Now nnd again, between squalls, he had ken able to see the land, but had been unable to get his bearings. From tho time of leaving Waitangi he was en duty, and no other officer was vith bim. After the Himitangi struck sho went further on the rocks, and stuck fast. He ordered the engines to be put full speed astern. This was persevorod with until tho blades were knocked off, but that did not move her. Tho boats were lowered, and they found that they were in about ten ifcet of water. They stood by the Himitangi till daylight, and then effected a landing nt Mongonui. Tho crew saved most of their belongings, and a Mr. iioach took them to his homestead. The Himitangi wns carrying 12,000 to 13,000 fret of timber and about ten tons of general cargo. That night he steered two or threo miles outside his usual course: thero was an ebb tide, and tho wind was westerly, and ho always steered an outside course at night. Tlio vessel's usual speed was eight kuots; and the enginoer reported that, sho was travelling at that speed.

The Only Explanation—A Strons ' Set. Captain Thompson said also that ha had been at sea for about 40 years, and for 20 years had beeu a master. He had been running to tho Chathams for 18 years. He changed his courso when botwoen Somes Point and Waitangj, because ho had been getting a bit close to land. He lost sight of land shortly after midnight, but thero was nothing after that 'hour to show that he was not doing his ostimatcd distance. Tho only explanation he could give as to why he got off his courso was that there must have been a set towards the shore. He had nothing on deck that would affect tho compasses. Tho place ivhero the vessel struck was about a milo from land. Tho wind that night was not sufficient to cause him to take extra precautions. Tho mails which the steamer carried were lost. Edward G. F. Zohrab, a member of the company which owned tho Himitangi, stated that the vessel was insured in tho Victoria Company and the Indemnity Mutual Company for £8000. There was an insuranco of £125 on the company's cargo, but other of the company's cargo was not insured, and neither was the fifty tons of coal which was iu tho bunkers. The captain's reputation was guod—sober and careful. He would bo willing to place him in chargo of another vessel on the same run. The declared value of tho Himit'angi for insurance purposes was £9000, and the company had refused that amount for her. . Norman Eric Walker, first engineer of the Himitangi, said that on the trip the engines did the usual number of revolutions, so that the vessel should have been travelling at a rate of eight knots. Sho struck at 1.34. From 1.40 to 4.5 attempts were made to got off by putting tho engines full speed astern, but some of tho blades of the propeller had been broken off, and the vessel could not be moved. At 4.5 they gavo 'up trying, as the water roso and put tho dynamo .out of action. The water came over'the engine-room platform and they had to get out. LudwigWalen, A.8., v. ho was at the wheel, said .that the vessel was dead on her set course when she struck. The sea was pretty heavy, but nothing unusual. There was a little excitement when the vessel struck, but not uracil.

i Tho Look-out. Martin Samuelson, the look-out, said that when he went on duty the weather was thick and squally, and when the squalls were on he could see nothing. He kept n «iarel'ul watch and saw nothing whatever tu indicate that the course was dangerous. The practice was to keep the look-out from the bridge deck. Captain Lambert: If you had kept tho watch from the forecastle' deck don't you think you would have seen tho breakers in time? Witness: Oh. I don't know. Captain Lambert: Do you say you never kept a look-out from the forccaxtle'deek?. Witness: Nn, Captain Lambert: Don't von know that that is the proper place? You would have been sent there in thick weather? Witness: Yea. Captain Lambert: Well, you say it was not clear on this night 1 J. Hansen, A.13., who was at the wheel until 11.50, said that the captain was on the bridge all the while that witness was on duty, and when witness came up after the vessel struck the captain was still on the bridge. Captain Thompson was recalled. Ho said that there was very little room on tho forecastle for a look-out. It was the practice on coastal vessels to post the look-out man on the bridge. Counsel for Captain Thompson said that ho had no witness to call: but he read several declarations from fishermen at the Islands. These men declared Unit it was impossible always to gauge the speed or the direction of Ihe set, at the Ohathams. One stated that he had observed the strong sots there, and had been as much as six miles out of his course. Another said that on the day of the stranding lip had noticed a particularly strong set. The. finding of ilie Court was:— The Court, having considered the evidence and declarations presented to it concerning the wreck of the s.s. Ilimitangi on tho Mohan. Reef, at the Chatham Islands, on July '29, 1918, is of opinion that tho wreck was caused through the ,

vessel striking an uncharted reef near Mobau on tho west side of Capo l'attison during a squall on the night of July 28, whilst running between Waitangi Bay and Kaingaroa,, and that the position of tho vessel at the time tho wreck was duo to a strong inset from the north-west, which carried her inshoro and off tho course set by Captain Thompson. The Court considers that there is no evidence to show that the wreck was caused or contributed to by the wrongful act or default of Charles Thompson, the master, or any of his officers or crew. The Court is also satisfied that the courses set by Captain Thompson were safe courses under ordinary circumstances, but we think that some record of these courses should hove been kept by him. The captain's certificate will be returned to him and no order will be made as to costs.