THE WRECK OF THE ROYAL TAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 December 1901, Page 4

THE WRECK OF THE ROYAL TAR.

Auckland, Dec. 10 At the Mag'sterial enquiry into thf wreck of the Eoyal Tar, Captain Morrison said he had passed ont of port as a foreign going master five limes. He always went on the east side of Tiri iri. Witness was on deck til midnight. August Bandson was at the wheel and William Mayne the look-out man, when the vessel struck. Wi'ness was nit on deck when the vessel struck. He left the boatswain, Hunt, in charge when he occasionally went below after midnight. At twelve o'clock witness gave the course N.N.E. The night was a bright starlight one. There was a light ground swell from the east. At 1.30 the vessel struck the Shearer rock. Asked if there was no certificated officer on deck to see the course was kept, witness said the boatswain was competent enough to do so. Captain Morrison also said that Mayne who was on the look out when the vessel struck, had been the worse for liquor in the morning, but got sober enough to do a four hours' watch. Tne mate was sober. Evidence was also given by the two men at the wheel from he time of sailing till striking Shearer rock. Both adhered to the course N.N.E., given by the captain at half-past eleven, when the vessel was half a mile westward of the i

Rangitoto Beacon. Several others were examined. All stated that everyone on board were quite sober as far as they knew when the vessel was weighed.