OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO WRECK OF LASTINGHAM.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4097, 8 September 1884, Page 3

OFFICIAL INQUIRY INTO WRECK OF LASTINGHAM.

Wellington, This day. A nautical enquiry was commenced at 12.30 p.m. oir Saturday into the circumstances connected with the loss of the ship Lastingham, before Mr. Wardoll, R.M., and Captains Grant and Ranstone (of the ship Peter Stuart) as Nautical Assessors. Mr. Izard, the Crown Prosecutor, appeared for the Crown, and Mr. Fitzgerald for the owners. Mr. Izard opened the enepiiry with an exposition of the particulars, which were substantially the statements already published. The only witnesses he intcnelcd to call were the first and second officers, the carpenter, and the man at the wheel. John Noal, the chief officer, deposed that he held a master's certificate. He held the position of chief officer in the Lastingham. Tho officers and crow numbered 20, and, with the passengers and the captain's wife, there were 32 souls on board. The ship was well found in every respect. Tho vessel had a fair passage until reaching Cook's Straits. On Monday last sighted Egmont at 8 a.m., a strong breeze blowing from the N.N.W. The weather was fine. Then altered the course to E. by S. Subsequently altered the course to S.E. by E., and about noon sighted Kapiti, which bore S.S.E., 12 miles distant. The vessel was averaging eleven knots, but reduced canvas and speed was slackened. At this time Kapiti bore E.N.E., 14 miles distant. The captain was on deck all this time, and had been for twelve hours previous to sighting- land. At 3 p.m. the vessel headed W. by S., kept that position until 8.15 p.m., when land was seen on the lee quarter about a mile distant. The captain gave orders to increase sail, which was done as soon as possible. The vessel was still on the same course, and after keeping on three-quarters of an hour the watch called "land ahead and also on the weather quarter," evidently two miles distant. The captain then ordered " wear tho ship," which was done. That would be about 9 o'clock. The ship came about, and stood away on the starboard tack. Kept on this tack until land was again nearing, when she went about, and while doing so struck stem on the beach, all hands being busy on deck seruaring the yards. It was my watch on deck. She hung on after striking for five minutes, and then canted broadside to the sea. She still rested on something, and there she remained for an hour and a half, when the masts went overboard and tho vessel to pieces. He was aft when the vessel struck, but went to the captain, who was on the poop. The captain said, " This is a bad job," and everyone will have to save himself. He (the mate) then went forward, and the captain remained aft. All hands were sober. Witness found the vessel dead against the land, and ho called all on board to come forward. He could not tell whether this oreler was obeyed, owing to the sea anel rain. He then jumped overboarel from the bow of the vessel and landed on dry ground. Tho drop was only about 0 feet. He never saw tho captain after the vessel struck. Half a minute after ho got over the side tho vessel canted. The captain's wife and the passengers were on deck. Hael those on board rushed forward when tho vessel struck all could have escaped. From his previous notice of the chart lie thought they had struck Jackson's Head. We never saw the Brother's light, and thought we were on our course until we saw land. By Mr Fitzgerald: He considered that tho course which tho captain adopted was a proper one under the circumstances. John Barton, second mate of the Lastingham, corroborated the evidence given by tho chief mate. He addeel that this was his first voyage to New Zealand. He did not see anyone taking bearings before the vessel struck, as he was engaged for some time in taking in sail, but he understood that the captain took bearings. The wind was as heavy as anything he had ever experienced, but when the holm was put down the ship lay-to nicely. Up to 3 o'clock in the afternoon the vessel averaged about seven knots. The chief officer was at Wellington with tho Lastingham last year. John Neale, re-called, stated that every effort was made by the survivors to attract the attention of steamers which passed by. He would not like to say that people on boai-d those steamcra .saw their signals. One of the steamers passed about a mile off the shore, and it was possible for those on board to have seen them at that distance. Francis W. Chambers, A.8., deposed that he was at the wheel from 1 to 2 on tho afternoon of the day the vessel was wrecked. By the captain's orders he altered his course from south-east to south. This was at 1.5 o'clock, and they began to shorten sale at 2 o'clock. John Donaldson, ordinary seaman, said he relieved the last witness at the wheel at 2 o'clock, the course being south. At three o'clock be was told by the captain not to mind tho course, but to steer by the wind. Alvarez, one of the throe who had gone off to seek assistance at Cape Jackson, relieved witness at 5 o'clock. This was all the evidence adduced. Mr Izard did not address the Court, stat-

in"- that he thought it was not necessary in the face of the fact that no charge whatever had been brought against anyone. Mr Fitzgerald also said that he did not think it necessary to make any remarks. The Court found that an error of judgment was committed by the master in standin"- on the tack too long, and this, in their opinion, led to the disaster. No blame was attached to the officers before the Court They desired to mention that they attributed no blame to the officers of vessels which passed the scene of the wreck, as it was po«sible they did not see the men on shore, and the latter had no means of making signals.