LIZZIE BELL INQUIRY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 2 August 1901, Page 4

LIZZIE BELL INQUIRY.

[Pee Peess Association.]

New Plymouth, July 31,

Tho Magisterial inquiry into the loss of the Lizzie Bell on the 25th, off Oco, was hold at the Court house to-day before Mr Sanford S.M.. with Captains Hood and Anderson as accessors.

The first witness was Captain Rees, of tbc ill-fated vessel, who said that be left Wellington with a full crew of eighteen and officers duly qualified. Six now hands wore taken at Wellington, all good seamen. He was quite satisfied with the crow. He did not himself indulge in liquor, and the crow coull not possibly get liquor aboard. Ho carried standard and pole compasses. The former was in tho forepart of the mizzea mast fifteen feet from deck to clear tho attraction of the iron. The cimpasses were tested ast on tho voyage to Wellington from Dunedin and found correct. Tho steering compass had been affected on tho voyage from Glasgow. The statement in a paper that tho vessel was nearly wrecked on the Ninety-mile Beach owing to an error in the compass was not true. A gale was blowing at the time. The course was made good to Stephen Island, which was breasted at five thirty. At eight the course was altered to go 25 miles north of Farewell spit. That course was kept till tho ship struck. Ho expected to fetch Farewell light at . eleven. Witness was on deck all the time since leaving Wellington except when pricking off the course on tbc ship’s chart. He continually observed both compasses and the course steered. He heard the men talking about what one of them was supposed to have scon. Neither the second officer nor tho lookout man reported land sighted. Hearing the discussion lie ran on deck and saw land ahead. He put the helm down and then the ship struck. He had sent the second officer to the fore top-gallant mast three times to look on?. At 910 and 10 40 he expected thac the officer would see either a light or land. The last time he said “You must sec something this time.’’ Tho night was fairly clear and tho vessel going ten knots, tie detailed what happened after tho ship struck. The barque should have been halt way between Oeo and Farewell Spit. Ho sot the course according to tho instructions in tho Now Zealand Pilot. Ho could not explain how tho vessel was so far out of her course.

Replying to the Court, witness said that the error in the polo compass was two and a halt points north-northwest. He could only take tho azimuth of the sun. The compass worked freely. The course was always kept by the standard compass. He passed Stephen’s Island ; tan miles off he saw the light already and found no undue influence of current or tides from Brothers and Stephen Islands. Tho fog registered 15 miles too little. On reaching the latter he did not expect land on the starboard side. He had no idea how far the ship was carried out of the intermediate course. It was unaccountable how she carried 26 miles northeast of tho course. He found four or five degrees deviation north-eafferly steering. The compass was only fitted for quadrantal deviation. He could not take a bearing at night within degrees of tho correct magnetic. He had been 20 years in iron vessels.

In the course of re-examination ho »aid it was impossible for ihe man at the wheel to discover the error in compasses during the few hours of the night. Ho would steer the same again as that set, unless the compass was in erroror a strong current existed. Ho could not account for tho ship’s position. He believed now that had ho hung on to tho wreck till daylight ail lives would have been saved.

John G!cn, A. 8., said that about 11.13 a.m. he told the second officer he thought ho saw land to the starboard bow, but the mate rep iecl ho did not think it was and went away. Witness became more convinced, but did not again report from 20 to 39 minutes after breaking on the beach. The weather was hazy, but land three miles off might, ho thought bo seen. The inquiry was adjourned till Friday.