THE LIZZIE BELL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 172, 1 August 1901, Page 2

THE LIZZIE BELL.

ENQUIRY AS TO CAUSE OF WRECK.

By Telegraph—Press Association. New Plymouth, last night. A magisterial enquiry into the loss of the Lizzie Bell on the 27th, off Oeo, was held at the Courthouse before Mr Stanford, S.M., with Captains Hood and Adamson as assessors. The first witness was Captain Rees, of the ill-fated vessel. He said that he left Wellington with a full crow of eighteen, the officers being duly qualified. Six new hands had been taken on at Wellington. All were good seamen. He was quite satisfied with the crew. He did not himself indulge in liquor. The crew could not possibly get liquor aboard. He carried standard and polo compasses. The former was kept in the fore part of the mizzen mast, fifteen feet from tho deck, to be clear of the attraction of the iron. The compasses were tested last on the vogago to Wellington from Dunedin, and were found to be correct. The steering compass had been affected on the voyage from Glasgow. A statement in the Dunedin papers that the was I nearly wrecked on Ninety-mile beach owing to an error in the compass was not true. There was a gale blowing at the time. Tho course was mado good to Stephen Island, which was breasted at 5.30. At S p.m. the course was altered to go 25 miles north of Farewell Spit. That course was kept till the ship struck. It was expected to fetch Farewell light at eleven. Witness was on dock all the time since leaving Wellington, except when pricking off tho course on the ship’s chart. He continually observed both the compasses and the course steered. He heard the men on deck talking about what ouo of them supposed he lnid soon. Neither tho second officer nor the lookout reported land sighted. Hearing tho discussion he ran on deck and saw land ahead. Ho put tho holm down. Then tho ship struck. He had sent the second officer to the forctop gallant throe times to look out at 9.10 and , 10.40. Ho expected that the officer would soe either a light or land. The last time ■ he said, “ You must see something this > time.” Tho night was fairly clear, and ' tho vessel was going at ten knots. He 1 detailed what happened after the ship 5 struck. Tho barque should have been 1 half-way between Oeo and Farewell Spit 5 Ho set the course according to instrue--3 tions in the Now Zealand pilot. 110 coulc * not explain how the vessel was so far oul - of her course.

Replying to the Court, witness said there was an error in the polo compass of two and a half points north-west. It eoulcl only take the azimuth or the sun. The compass worked freely. The course j was always kept by the standard compass. The vessels passed Stephen’s Island ten miles off. Ho saw tho light clearly. lie found no undue influence in she currents or tides at the Brothers and Stephen’s Island. The log registered Id miles too little on reaching the latter. He did not expect land on the starboard side. lie had no idea how far tho ship carried. Twentysix miles north-east of tho course ho found there was four or five degrees deviation north-easterly. Tho steering compass was only fitted for quadrantal deviation. He could not take bearings at night within degrees of tho correct magnetic. Ho had been 20 years in iron vessels.

lii re-examination, witness said that it was impossible for the man at the wheel to discover an error in the compass during a few hours of the night. lie would steer the same course again as that sot. U nlcss the compass was in error, or a strong current existed, ho could not account for the ship’s position. Ho bolived now that had ho hung to the wreck till daylight all the lives would have been saved. •John Glenn, A. 13., said that at about 11.15 p.m., he told the second officer he thought he saw land on the starboard bow, hut the mate replied that ho did not think it was, and went away. Witness became more convinced, but did not again report. From 20 to 30 minutes afterwards the ship struck. There was no sign of sea breaking on tire beach. The weather was hazy, but land three miles off might, he thought, be seen. The enquiry was adjourned till Friday.