THE ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE RANGITIRA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2044, 11 September 1880, Page 3

THE ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE RANGITIRA.

[PEB PBEBfI ASSOCIATION SPECIAL WISH.] The following is the remainder of this enquiry, the commencement of which was given in our vesterday’s issue NEW PLYMOUTH, September 10. I sot the course south by east half cast. The steamer passing on the port bow was a sign that wo were on our right course. I was compelled to leave the vessel at eight o’clock. I lost some of my effects, including my certificate. The Waitara light being a red one it might be taken for a steamer’s light. I have made inquiries, a steamer could have been passing at the time. By the Court—l never saw the chief mate take liquor. All the crew and myself were sober that night. The vessel was about three miles off her course when she struck. I did not order the lead to be thrown at two

o’clock. I think it is quite safe to calculate our distance in fine weather by the revolutions of the engines. By the chief officer—l think the sluggishness of the compass would account for the steamer being out of her course.

James Craig, chief engineer, deposed—According to the captain’s instructions, I let the vessel go at six and a half to seven miles an hour. I told the second engineer when relieved to keep her at six and a half miles an hour.

Edward Briston, the second ’mate, corroborated the captain’s evidence. James Crowley, the second engineer, stated —I went on duty at two o’clock in the morning. The chief engineer said she was all right. I thought she was going from 82 to 84 revolutions per minute, which was at the rate of eight and a half miles an hour. At three o’clock the vessel bumped. Immediately after she bumped the telegraph went full speed astern. The water came into the engine rooms, and put out the fires. Crossexamined—l kept the steamer going at eight and a half miles an hour until she struck on the reef.

Thomas Sweede, the first mate, deposed—l hold a certificate of competency, which is in Wellington. I went on duty at midnight and relieved the second male. He gave the course, and told mo to call the captain at two o’clock. He told me to steer 8. by E. half E., nothing to eastward. It was a calm, clear night, and I could see land. The steamer was steaming about seven miles an hour. I called the captain at two, and told him that I saw the Waitara light, and that I thought there was a steamer coming out. He told me to call him in an hour, I did not call the captain at three. I was just going to call him when she struck. As I saw the rocks ahead I shouted to the engineer to go astern. It was quite smooth when she first touched the rocks. She did not bump until the rollers came in and struck her. At 1.30 I thought we were going too near land, and I altered the course to steer a little off the land. I could not see the rooks until we were on them. I saw a light which I thought was the Taranaki light, but it must have been the light at White’s Hotel at Bell Block. Cross-examined When I ordered the man to steer by the light ha steered by the light for fifteen minutes. I never looked at the telegraph to see whether she was going full or half speed. By the Court—The light we were steering for went out a minute before we struck. It is not customary to alter the course without telling the captain. I did not want the captain to know that the course had been changed. Edward Johnston, the seaman at the wheel, deposed that the course given him by the man he relieved was S. by 8., which ho kept until got an order from the chief officer to steer by the light. After counsel had addressed the Bench, the Court said that no blame was attached to the engineer or second officer, but the master was culpable in not having kept a look-out and neglecting to use the log, but his negligence was not sufficient to warrant suspension of his certificate. The chief officer was most to blame, and they considered him guilty of gross carelessness, as he must have seen not only the New Plymouth light, but the light of the Hinemoa, then lying in the roadstead. The chief officer’s certificate was ordered to be suspended for six months, the certificate to be sent from Wellington.