THE HUON BELLE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2583, 18 July 1882, Page 3

THE HUON BELLE.

An enquiry concerning the mishap to the ketch Huon Belle was held at the Custom House this morning, before A, Hose, Esq., Collector of Customs, whea the following evidence vai taken up to the time of our going to press:—Daniel Keyes, being sworn, deposed—l am master of the ketch Huon Belle, official No. 32131, port No. 1, of 1880, Danedin, registered tonnage 42 6 100 tons. I hold no certificate of any kind. I left Oatlin's Hirer on the 16th June with a oargo of 84,000 ft of timber, bound for Kaiapoi. I arrived off the Waimakariri bar on the 26th June. I was too late for the tide, and, seeing the Faloon asbore, I put back to Port Levy. On the 28th we put into Lyttelton to provision. _ On the 30ih I attempted to make for the Kaiapoi bar, but again had to put back to Port Levy. On the 4th July I started afresh, and arrived off the Waimakariri bar about midday. I kept on and off till about 430 p.m., waiting for the tide, and then made for the bar. Proper signals were given to me by the pilot to show the channel, and I had got over the bar in safety when my mainsail came down with a run, owing to the thumb cleot carrying away. I managed to get the mainsail set again. 1 hauled the vessel close to the wind, and tried to stay hor, she oame head to wind, but payed off again. I therefore let go the anchor, as she slewed round head to wind her stern grounded, her head payed right off, and she went broadside on to the south hsad inside the bar. The vessel was drawing 6ft 2in aft, and 4ft. 6in. forward. The Huon Belle is a centre-board vessel. On entering, the tide was three quarter flood, the sea was not at all heavy, the drift of the sea was E.8.E., and the wind was N.E. moderate, but a command. ing breeze. I aooount for the grounding of the vessel entirely to the thumb oleet of the throat halyardscarryingaway. The onlydamage done to the vessel is one butt end started This has been repaired, and the vessel now makes no water. The repair is only temporary, as the vessel has to be overhauled in Danedin. The vessel, I believe, is insured for £2OO in the National Insurance Company of New Zealand. I estimate the value of the vessel to be about £SOO. I oannot say whether the oargo was insured, but I believe it was, but do not know the particulars. I estimate that between £3O and £4O will cover the expense of repairing the vessel. The thumb cleet which carried away was fastened by spikes, and not riveted, and the cleet and spikes drow out. This is the second time I have entered the Waimakariri bar. I have been at sea for fifteen years, the last eight of whioh I have been matter of a coasting craft. My crew were disohargod as soon as my cargo was out, as their time was up, and I could not get hold of them to attend the enquiry, as they have dispersed—l don't know where. I hove overboard the deck load of timber of about 500 or 600 feet. The pilot came aboard my vessel at the time of the mishap, and assisted me until the vessel was alongside the wharf at Kaiapoi. The veosel was well found.