The Accident to the Ruapehu, THE CAPTAIN'S EVIDENCE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 160, 8 January 1897, Page 2

The Accident to the Ruapehu, THE CAPTAIN'S EVIDENCE.

(Per Press Association). Wellington. January 7. The enquiry into the stranding of the Ruapehu began (bis afternoon. Captain Stewart deposed that at noon on the day the vessel struck he had excellent observations which he took himself, and set his course to carry the ship eight miles north of Cape Farewell. At 4.30 he noticed she was being set a little to northward and altered the course, making a temporary course towards shore. This was at 6.50, when witness went to dinner and left instructions with the chief officer that if the lighthouse did not come in sight before the ship was within four miles of the shore, she was to be hauled out east and witness called. The atmospheric conditions were very clear. Witness considered they would have eight miles to run before they got within the four mile margin which he gave the chief officer. While at his dinner witness imagined he telt the engines slow down, and on going on deck saw the ship close to the breakers and ashore. This was 7.13. Everything was done that was possible to float the ship, but without success. He could not say whether there was any land on port bow, though there may have been, but be saw it stretched out straight ahead. The soundings gaye 12ft of water forward and 25ft aft. The vessel was drawing 18ft llin forward and 22ft sin aft. Under witness' instruc tions the fourth officer was never allowed to be in charge of the deck unless the weather was very clear, and by special permission. Had a vigilant lookout been kept in obedience to witness' orders, it would have been sufficient for the careful navigation of the ship. The breakers could easily be seen witb glasses from four to five miles off. While at dinner he heard that the chief officer, who left the deck ten minutes after witness, was called by the fourth, but no message was sent to witness. Replying to a question from the captain, the quartermaster who was at the wheel said that he bad seen the breakers. At 6 p.m. an adjournment was made until 10.30 to-morrow. This Day. Captain Stewart, recalled, said the chart showed that the distance from where the vessel's course was altered at 6.35 to the eastern sand hill then visible was 12| miles, the abservations by cross bearings at 6.35 p.m. had been confirmed and witness had no doubt the position of tho vessel at that time was the correct one. Captain Wheeler, formerly of the Union Company, gave evidence as to distance at which the sand bills were likely to be seen from the sea, In clear weather they would be visible 12£ miles. The sea along the spit might break half a mile from the shore in rough weather, but ordinarily ft was not more than a quarter of a mile. Captain Wheeler said he had never known atmospheric conditions at Farewell which make it excusable for a vessel grounding from £ to |mile from the shore though he had occasionally experienced difficulty in picking up the land in bad weather. If the sun was setting he might see the coast line and surf more easily.