INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE SARAH AND MARY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2039, 6 September 1880, Page 2

INQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE SARAH AND MARY.

This inquiry was held at Lyttelton on Monday morning by Mr Joseph Beswick, R.M., and Captain Millton, as nautical assessor. Mr H. N. Naldor appeared for the underwriters of the vessel, and Mr Bamford for the master, Captain Eorman. The inquiry was undertaken at the instance of the Collector Df Customs at Picton, who had previously hold a preliminary examination. Mr Alexander Eose now conducted the inquiry in behalf of the Crown. All witnesses were ordered out of Court, on the application of Mr H. N. Nalder.

William Penny Forman sworn, said he had a second mate's certificate, foreign. "Was master of tho Sarah and Mary. Ho left Lyttelton at 5 a.m. on the 29th July, and was in charge when she was wrecked on the 9th August in Queen Charlotte's Sound. Wo were bound to Hokitika with a cargo of produce. Had put first into Port Levy, and next into Kaikoura, because tho vessel was not able to run in the sea then prevailing. Put next into Jackson's Bay, Tory Channel, for water, and to repair sails. Anchored next at the head of Tory Channel; stayed two days there repairing sails. Anchored next in Cannibal Cove for a further supply of water. Started from tharo to boat out, and had to run back. The wind was notherly at starting, and it shifted to tho north west. Anchored on the east sido of Motuara Island, in about seven fathoms of water. Gave her twenty-two fathoms of chain. About eight o'clock that night the wind began to freshen. It was difficult to tell what its direction was, as, there, it eddies about so. About ten o'clock gave the vessel more chain—about 33 fathoms on the starboard anchor. The port anchor was not down. Put a " watchman " on the windlass, that is, by putting a short piece of chain, so that if the vessel dragged, the noiso would bring all hands on deck. It is not usual to have an anchor watch in small vessels. The crew and matter then went below and turned in. About an hour later one of the hands came from forward and said tho voaael was close in shore and must have parted. She was half a mile or a mile from the shore. She would probably bo 12ft. from the rocks

when the man reported her adrift, and when the master found her. Told the mate to clear the port anchor, loose head sails and hoist them up She was too close to let go the anchor. The vessel struck before they got the anchor out. There was not time to get it out. Tried to back her off with the head sails, but could not. She was hard and fast. Next order was to get the boat out, and i£ they had anything to save to get it out. They did so, and we went ashore, landing upon the island. It was about eleven o'clock when the vessel struok on the 9th, and about midnight the crew demand-id to save their lives and effects. We returned to the vessel in about two hours. The crewtoot their clothes. Mine were lost in the vessel. There was a stowaway on board the vessel named Sylvester, who went ashore in the boat. There were no goods landed after the vessel struck. The muster of hands on board was three besides the master. This did not include the stowaway, of whose presence the master was unaware until the wrsck occurred, when he was particularly lively in getting into the boat. Tneir names were —E. Oiirne, mate, Andrew Brings, and George Joseph, seamen. The Ljttelton clearance of the vessel was given to the Collector of Customs at Picton, where it was left. The names did not agree with that, because the crew were changed before the vessel left. The mate had been master before. [L-ft sitting.]