THE WRECKED YACHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 80, 12 April 1901, Page 2

THE WRECKED YACHT.

AN ENQUIRY. SOME REMARKABLE EVIDENCE. Press Association—Copyright. Oamaru, last night. A Magisterial enquiry was commenced to-day into the wreck of the yacht Ariadne, of 230 tons, on the beach two miles South of the AVaitaki river. Mr A. G. Creagk appeared for the Collector of Customs, Mr A. C. Hanlon for Captain G. Mumford, and Mr Newton watches tho case in the interest of the underwriters. Tho vessel was insured for £IO,OOO at Home.

; The captain of the yacht at the time of , the wreck was George Mumford, and, in , his evidence, he said he had bean engaged j in Sydney by Mr Kerry, the owner, and witness had engaged the crew. The vessel was well found in every respect, but she had met with heavy weather on ; the trip iftross. Some of her sails had been torn. On the-trip across, part of - tho crow refused duty for a time when ' tho order was given to take in sail in a gale of wind. He had verbal instructions to proceed to Dunedin to refit on the 24th of March. They arrived off the AVaitaki about 3 p.m. He then wore the vessel, and stood off the land for three hours ; wore tho vessel again and stood in for two and a-half hours. He then found 15 fathoms of water, and went below to examine his chart, which had since accidentally been burnt, and while there tho vessel struck. He now attributed the fact of the vessel striking to the strong current at the place retarding the progress of tho vessel from the land, and increasing on the inward tack. The weather was thick, and there was a stiff breeze blowing at tho time. Ho supposod the ship to be 7£ miles from the land before the yacht struck. The boatswain reported down the companion that there were breakers on the lee bow, and lie ordered the helm to be put hard up, but it was too late. Captain Willis, Lloyd’s agent in the colony, said he had visited the wreck on tho 30th March. Captain Mumford said he had been constantly repairing sails on the trip, as the sewing had perished. He also said the vessel had been leaking after the first bad weather, and he said he was much astonished to find the lockers empty when broken open after the wreck, having expected to find elcctro-ware in them. Captain . Willis said that Captain Mumford’s charts were not in his opinion sufficiently safe for navigation. Coastal charts should have been in use. He could not consider it possible, from the captain’s charts, etc., to properly navigate the vessel. It was possible for the current or sea to have forced the vessel into the position where she was found. He estimated i the value of the vessel at £SOOO, without the lead ballast. Ho believed the vessel 1 was built in 1874. j The inquiry will be resumed to-morrow. 1