NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1839, 21 August 1906, Page 3

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

The nautical enquiry commenced at Auckland last week was adjourned until to-day, in order to secure evidence from the Marino Department, Wellington, and tho deposition! t.ken at tho ingots' touching tha death of members ot the Aetou’a mew.

Io tho coutso of tha enquiry concerning the loos ot the ketch Sir Houry, wrecked with.all hands on July 17th, the Collector of Outturns sa’d tbo kttch left Auckland on July 13th iu goed crnditbn, and to the bast cf h s belief fully eqirpjed, with a crew of four and otic paeseagir. He hal no clffin ta evidence of tho vcssei’d souworthiness and could net find any department that possessed i;. LIo could not say whose duty it was io have that informa-

tion. Georga Nicell, shipbuilder, said ho had inspected tbs ketch before sbo loft port. She was a first class vessel, wao well found, and Capta.n Uootnoi wa3 a careful, sober man.

A. F. Jaggor, who formeriy cwnrd a half-sharo in the vessel, auid sbo was woil built, end her equipments we:o good. Witness was no! fully conversant wtb the Harbor Beard regulation w.th regard to the depositing of a manikst cargo with a Harbor Board official before vc-isold wtrj urun:o:i(l from u wharf or anchorage. That wts a duty cf the master, aed ho believed it war geutral'y complied wi'.h by uia-tsrs, but was not curtain.

Ernest G. It, Fold, shipowner and egent, sa’d ill it tho regulation just referred to war almost a dead letter cxcipt with foreign goirg ship?, Captam F lemingi raporictendont cf mercantile rnirio?, said that tho vcasel was well found in svory way, and was ftr ahead cf the ordinary lot. Mr li-tble, S.M.: How often do tho regulations r, quiro you to examine ships?—No intervals aro stipulated, but I should certainly take once every twelve months to to a fair thing. I have only boon appointed two months, and there are some 200 of thc-so small craft luociig out of tho fto-f, constq ren ly I have only exuuriaed olovec so fur.

Is there any officer wLo inspect? deck cargo?—There is a Customs cllicia! who toiler a't-r that—Uapt.ia Pa>k r, I believe. He keeps au eye on all vessels

leaving to sou iha! tboy am not subrn.rged, But tho crow thenis.lvea see io to t,

Do you mien to tell me that tbo cro.-', loan cf them ignorant mru from ho shore, rea'-ly bother thruis'-lvos about 1 ? —I 10, sir, and they bother me u g (. fl .'cal, t ■ What h-.ua they over bothered you alo.-t ? -Not ovfi'o .ding, bo; about i quip mo: A. Tlie i-- q-ii ■ yin this o ijo w:u mlj nirued p’"..-ing .ce.-ipi of lu:th?r e-.id.nee mb to weather and the lighthouse keeper’s statement.

In opening tbo inquiry regarding tho supposed wreck of tho scow Haurcmai, Mr R ise tiaid this case was peculiar ill that there was no oviilouoo at all as to what had become of her. Hho was in good condition, fully equipped, and with a mow cf fivo all told. Slio was rnportod by tlio East Capo island lighlkoopor as passing on May 10th, aud had not bt-on hoard of since. Apparoutly Bho was lost with all

ha mis. Mr Kettle asked übout tho dock oargo, and said : Dock oargo seems to mo to be ono of tho moot important points to bo inquired into, to find wboihor tho vessel was overloaded or not. I think wo shiuld havo that ovidonco ns soon as possible. It has boon suggotted that Captain Pinker would know. Mr Rose: No, ho has far too much work lo dc. Is would require twonty men to attend to it, with all thoso 200 j small omit. Mr Kettle asked Mr N coll, buildor cf

the Hacromai, if it was not desirable that - tho plans of all now vessels should bo submitted lo tho Marino Department for nppi ovnl. Witness : I lon'c think they would understand them if wo did. Mr lloso: But the idra is that thoy would bn snlimbt-d to experts. Mr Ketllo: 'L’luit should be done, otheru ise there may be about as much i-im? taken as with lire escapes and such things on shore. In my opinion, very great care should be taken to see that vessels arc properly built and seaworthy. W e Jun e a large floating population on the water, and we want to take care id them as far its we can. Don’t you think it necessary that more care should be taken to prevent loss of life 2 M itness: If you saw the stack of stull wo have got to carry aboard for lile-saving, you would be rather sur. prised.

". T. R Madv, manifest clerk of the Harbor Hoard, was examined concerning the delivery of manifests of cargo before unmooring, lie said the rule was not strictly enforced With regard to the Bit- Henry, (here was no manifest, available, because as she was bound for Gisborne; (a place in the .Auckland province', there was no charge for wharfage. Evidence was also heard regarding the loss ol the schooner Aotca at Waipiro Bay with all hands It was stated that the vessel was thoroughly seaworthy and sound, and had just been overhauled (owing to an accident on the previous occasion) before she left on her last trip.