TARARUA INQUIRY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2237, 3 June 1881, Page 3

TARARUA INQUIRY.

DECISION OF THE COURT. [By Tblhgbaph.] DTJNEDIN, June 3. Judgment in the Tararua inquiry was given to-day. The Court found that the wreck and loss of life was primarily caused through the failure of Captain Garrard to ascertain at 4 a.m. on April 29th the correot position of the ship, when the simple use of the lead would have told the distanoe off the shore. That the course in which the Tararua waa steered from half-past one to fouri assuming the oompasses were magnetically correct, was an inshore course, and therefore improper, especially as a heavy swell and ebb tide tended to set the vessel in shore. That at 4 25, when the second officer first called the captain's attention to the noise of the breakers, the vessel was off Slope-Point and in dangerous proximity thereto, but the captain believed her to be off Waipapa Point. That although it is to be regretted that the seoond officer did not exeroiso the power which he had to stop the engines if he found the ship in imminent danger when for the second time he fancied he heard the breakers, we cannot coma to 'he conclusion that his not doing so was negligent omission. It was reasonable for him to suppose that the captain had ascertained the position of fie ship at four, and he might naturally be impressed with the idea that the hearing of the breakers could only be fancy, and took the action he did to report to the captain in terms of his orders. At the same time we are of opinion that the leaving of the bridge at any time by an officer in charge of the deck when the ship is under way is fraught with extreme danger, and that Captain Garrard's orders to his officers to call him personally were imprudent. That the immediate cause of tho wreok and loss of life was the negligent failure of the able seaman Weston to keep a proper look-out. That afer the vessel struck and filled the captain committed an errcr in jugdment in not placing his passengors in the boats. The Court was of opinion that there were sufficient boats and life buoys in the Tararua, but thought many lives would have been saved had life belts been available for the passengers and crew. In reference to the management of the boats, they thought the loss of the first officer's might have been avoided by more skilful management, but although censuring Lindsay for his lack of skill, they were not disposed to say the casualty resulted therefrom, or was caused by his wrongful act or default. They thought assistance should have been rendered from the Bluff or Invercargill | when intimation was first received of the acoident, for no passenger, when the vessel was on the rook, could be considered in other than a dangerous position. Astonishment was expressed that the officers of the Tararua were ignorant of the deviations of the compass, but in view of the peculiar discipline on board the Court was not disposed to say to what degree, if any, this ignorance was attributable to their own negleot. The certificates of both officers were then returned. In conclusion, the Court made the following recommendations:—l. That alight is urgently required in the neighborhood of Waipapa Point. 2. That all passenger vessels trading in New Zealand waters be compelled to carry life belts for a maximum number of pasiengeis and crow. 3. That a regulation be made compelling exercise in the management of boats at stated intervals. In answer to a question, the Court said that as the captain had lost his life there was no one against whom an order for costs could be made.