THE TARARUA DISASTER.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2247, 11 May 1881, Page 3

THE TARARUA DISASTER.

The Sydenham Musical Society give their concert at the Oddfellows' Hall to-night in aid of the fund for the Tararua disaster. The object is so praiseworthy a one, and the society have shown such commendable alacrity in coming to the front that it is to be hoped that there will be a crowded house on the occasion. The Tramway Company have kindly offered to ran a tram, bringing in passengers free to the concert and returning at its close. A funeral sermon in connection with tho disaster will be preached on Thursday evening by the Rev. James Bnller at tho Durham street Wesleyan church, and a collection will be made on behalf of tho fund for the benefit of the families of the deceased ministers. A correspondent telegraphed from Wyndham last night as follows: Eleven more bodies were found on Waipapa beach on Snnday morning, the bodies recognised being those of Capt. Garrard, identified by his brother through his watch and locket, the latter containing the portraits of his intended wife and of his mother; that of R. W. Crawford, indentified bj mtans of papers found on the body, and that of Root. Brown by a ring having a piece of gold quartz in the centre. The remainder of the bodies were unidentified, amongst them being the body of one female and of a Chinaman. On RSonday fourteen bodies were recovered, the only ones recognised being those of Dr. Campbell's eldest son, and of Jones, the late purser. T he bodies have all been Buried in ground for that purpose close to the scene of the wreck, to be called the " Tararua Cemetery." The only thing yet recovered in the shape of wreckage is thirty barrels of limejnice. There are twelve policemen still on the scene, and watch is being kept for some distance along the beach from 5 am. daily. Amongst the police are inspector Buckley and detective Toohy. who deserve greit praise for their exertions to recover the bodies, and for the readiness with which they render all the aid in their power to persons seeking for the bodies of friends. Captain Garrard's body, which was recovered on Sunday, and buried the following day at Otara, will be exhumed and brought to Christchurch for interment. [PBBBS ASSOCIATION TBLMOBAMH.J AUCKLAND, May 10. The Bov. G. M. Isett, Wcslejan minister, in a funeral discourse on the Conference representatives, said of the Tararaa disaster, that the voice of the Lard was heard in protest ngaiust the recklessness of man in his greed for gain. They might never know tho real cause of the disaster, but it bad opened men's mouth?, and called foith the comments of the press and general public. Ho learned that certain of our shipping companies, in their greed for dividends, endangered the lives of their passengers. We heard strange tales of the time table not allowing sufficient rest, of boats so undermanned, that the men worked in port by day and watched by night, with the safety of the Bhip depending on thoir vigilance; of slow captains receiving scant courtesy, and thns there was every inducement to shave dangerous corners and drive full speed through fogs by day or darkness at night. If these things were true, ho wondered that shipwrecks were so few. Let landsmen remember that the principle pleaded for was not alone violated on the water. Auckland was not guiltless. Her Saturday night was a disgruce to her tradesmen, and an outrage on Christian charity. INVERCARGILL, May 10. Mr Stewart.of Messrs Cargills, Gibhs and Co., returned from Otara today. Be reports that up to 2 p.m. on Monday fifty-eight bodies in all had been recovered, fifty four of these having been found on Otara beach, two at Waikawn, and two recovered at sea and taken to Dnnedin. ENQUIRY INTO THE WRECK. DUNE DIN, May 10. The Court of Nautical Assessors appointed to inquire into the wreck of the Tararua met this morning, the members being Mr Simpson, h.M., Captain Thomson,Harbor Master Port Chilmers, and Captain McGowan, master ship Benvenue. Mr Denniston— l appear instructed by the Crown Solicitor to conduct the inquiry on behalf of the Collector of Customs who iB present. Mr Allan Holmes —I appear to watch the proceedings on behalf of the first and second mates. Mr tf. K. Chapman—l appear on behalf of the representatives of the late Captain Garrard to watch proceedings. Mr Simpson—lt is nsual, I suppose, to hand in the certificates of officers if they have them. The certificates of tho firat and second mate 3 were then handed in. Up till tho adjournment at 5p m., the first officer, Robert Lindsay, waj the only witness examined. The following are tho most important portions of the evidence, omitting factß previously brought to light. Robert Lindsay deposed—l hold a master's certificate. No. 131 [Produced.] We left Port Chalmers at 5 p.m. on April 28th. The Bttamer had five boats. They were all, with th« exception o: the dingy, on the chooks in the do.vits. The two foremost boats were under the bridge. They were both lifeboats, with corks round the inside. They were supposed to carry from twenty to thirty each. We had two boats of similar build before the after gangway, aft of the other boats. These latter were lifeboatßin build, but without corks. They would also carry from twenty to thirty each. Iheu there was the dingy. Going along the coast we oarry her on the deck, and she was so carried on the 28th. At 1.30 we were supposed to be off Long Point, and I called the captain. I saw the land about four to five miles off, but could cot observe the point. I believed wo were off Long Point because she had run the distance by log. We had run fifteen miles from twelve o'clock. I saw nothing on the land itself to give my position ; I simply jndged it by the distance logged. There wa* a haza over the land when I called the captain at 1 30. He came on deck, looked at the position of the ship, and said she was making a very good course. 1 gave him the order book. He wrote down the course at W.S.W., and to call him at 3.45 a m. Ho then went to his cabin. He was not undressed, but was ready for calling at auy time. I steered the course then given until 3.45, and then called the captain. At that time I'judged wo were about off Slope point. I judged that by tho time we had been rnuning on the course given. I h.d nothing on the land to guide roe. The log was not hauled in after 1.30. When the captain came on deck ho said, " Well, let her run on this course until four o'clock, and then alter the course to West." I continued the previous course until four o'clock. Wo were still going about ten knots. 1 went below at four o'clock, giving the order hook to the second officer on the bridge. I saw the course altered to duo West. At that period I only saw the haze on the land, and nothing on shore to indicate where we were. Then I went beljw. The log was not hauled in after 1.30, and we relied entirely for our position on tho rate we had run. As far as I am awaro, we made bo allowance for tide or currents. I speak entirely ior myself, i here is a current marked on the chart of one to two knot 3. Had wo been at four o'clock where we supposed we were and continued steering due west until we sighted Dog Island light we should have escaped the land. The weather at 4 a.m. waß the same as it had been all nifiht, hazy over the land. It was as clear as possible above head ; jast a light haze over the land. By the Court—l had not a table of the variation of the Tararua's compasses. I knew the standard compass was correct according to the compass card I had. I did not knew the error of the standard compass. The captain had tho deviation table and the adjustment cards. The compasses had not been adjusted since I was in the Taranuki. Tho course that I have described is to the best of my knowledge the Qoursu always kept by the Taiarna at that point. Wo ' lost sight of the Nuggets at twonty minutes 1 past one o'clock. We did not take bearings then. The ship only carried two officers. There

was no other in the watoh with me. I cinnot say whether the error of the compasses was determined from time to time during the voyage. I never took an amplitude. I cannot say_ whether the captain did. We often took four-point bearings of a light as we passed, but we did not on the occasion of passing the Nuggets this time. The captain usually pnt it in the book to take four-point bearings when passing a light. I did nothing except what was stated in the book. By Mr Denniston—The captain wbb on deck when she passed the Nuggets, and did not inquire the bearings. I was awakened by the shock of the vessel striking. I heard the captain's order as I was coming out of my room to call all hands to clear away the boats. We had no particular station to run to as to the boats. 1 am aware of no directions on board the Tararua showing the positions of men and officers taking charge of the boats in case of accidents. I never saw boat drill on board the Tararua. I went to the foremost boat so as to take charge of my watch as they came on deck. I had received no orders to get that particular boat out. The captain was giving orders coolly and collectedly. At the first Bhock of striking there was a deal of screaming among the women. After the boats were swung out to the davit heads everything was quiet, and there was good order. Both passengers and crew were cool. I saw that all the four boats were slung out clear of the ship's eide, ready for lowering. That took, I think, about twenty minutes. I did not observe anything when I first came on deck but the broken water round the ship. It was very dark. I was entirely occupied with getting out the boats, and at that time paid no attention to the position of the ship. After the adjournment the examination of the chief officer was resumed. Be corrected a previous statement by saying that the aftermost boats of Ihe Tararua were furnished with cork. He then continued in answer to Mr DennistonAfter the boats were got ready nothing more was done until daylight. It was dawn about a quarter past six. 1 he vessel was distant about three quarters of a mile from the shore. In my opinion a line could could not have been taken from the vessel to the shore by the boat on account of the under drift. We had nolight lines of sufficient length to have reached the shore, bo that a heavier line could not have been got ashore by means of a light line. I think the second mate's boat reached to about 500 ft. from the beach. When the boat came back six more passengers volunteered to go in the boat. Before that the second mate _on returning to the vessel informed the captain that he could get them ashore, but that they would have to swim. By the Conrt—When I got on shore the sea was washing over the after part of the vessel. The sea was not rough enough, although washing over the vessel, to do a great deal of damage Between eleven and twelve no boats could have got near the vessel, as the sea had risen very rapidly. When I left the vessel I did not think she was in any danger. Towards one and two o'clock p.m. I noticed the sea beginning to break over her fore and aft. I then saw the passengers being washed off the forecastle head. I don't think that after halfpast eleven in the morning any steamer or boats could have got near enough to render any assistance. When the steamer's lights were seen, the sea was running mountains high,(making a clean breach over the ship, although it was calm overhead. After half-past eleven, in my opinion, a boat could not lie nearer the ship than a quarter of a mile. My opinion is that it must have been the southerly sw< 11 that put the Tararua ashore. By Mr Denmßton —In my opinion, all was done that could be done for the safety of the passengers after the vessel struck. The course pursued after the wreck recommended itself to my judgment. No steamer could have got near enough to do any good. I do cot think if a vessel had hove-to to windward of the wreck that she could have floated a small line down to her. The broken water round the ship was for about two ships' lengths. I cannot say how many passengers we had. We had six life buoys on board. I do not know of any cork jackets. Two life buoys were on the bridge, two hanging over the stern, and one on each quartor. By the Court —I call it Waipapa Point where the vessel went ashore. We could not determine our position with accuracy when we altered ou? coarse from W S.W. to W. A light on Waipapa Point would render navigation between Port Chalmers and the Bluff safe. I know o! two vessels that have gone ashore in the neighborhood of Waipapa. The Gothenburg was said to have struck on Waipapa. That is the point on wbbh a light should be placed. It if the great danger of the locality. I gave the distance between Waipapa and Slope Point at fifteen miles (after measuring by the compass on the chart); I now find it is only seven and a-hali miles, measuring from the actual position of the wreck. We must have been only a mile and a-half off of Slope Point, and only h»lf a mile clear of the foul ground abreast of that point. I did not when at Slope Point hear the roar of the breakers, although we were only half a mile away. It is not impossible that an error may have suddenly happened to the Tararua's compasses about the time we altered the course to west. Some local attraction might cause snch an error. The conclusion I cotue to now is that the vessel had not ran her distance at the time I went below. If that was so the course was erroneously altered. The Court adjourned at 5 p.m. till twelve tomorrow. In all twenty witnesses are to be ex amined, and it is likely that the inquiry will occupy six or seven days.