NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 July 1924, Page 8

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

DAMA.GE TO LINER, (by telegraph —press association.! WELLINGTON, June 30. When moving to her berth at the Bluff harbour on June 3, the Shaw Savill liner Palieha touched and damaged one of her plates. A nautical inquiry was opened to-day, the court consisting of Mr. Riddell, S.M., and Captains F. W. Barren and J. Bollons. It was pointed out that the Bluff Harbour Board was npt represented at the hearing, but counsel for the Shaw Savill Company objected to the .proceedings being adjourned on this account. The vessel was already about fourteen days late, .and it was' hoped she would be able to sail to-morrow. The chairman said the enquiry should have been held earlier. However, the taking of evidence would be proceeded with, and in the meantime the Bluff Harbour Board might he asked if it desired to be represented. . Captain W T illiain Clifton Mogg, captain .of the Fake-ha, said the steamer arrived at. the Bluff at 5.30 a.m. on June 2, drawing 20ft 9in forward and 21ft Sin aft. The pilot, came aboard and suggested anchoring, but witness thought this hardly worth while in view of the fact that it was only necessary to wait until 7 a.m. They drifted until 7.11, -when the boat was headed for the sduth channel. It was almost- on the ebb tide at 7.56, and both engines were slow. A minute later, when., the ship had altered her - course on to the lastline of beacons, she was felt to strike. ."Witness said to the pilot: “She has struck,” but he replied: “It is impossible; she is right in line with the beacons.” Witness Aerified this by sending the third officer to get the bearing. When the A’essel struck Atitness experienced a grinding sensation, and concluded that she had passed over a rock. Witness reported to the harbour master. The vessel'began to make water at the rate of six inches an hour. ' A. diver AA r ent down and discovered a.- fracture of one of the plates under number 3 hold. The chief officer, Alexander Black, Avho was. on duty at the forecastle head ,at the time, said that he did not notice any unusual, happening. Alfred Edward Cooper, second engineer, who was on duty in the'engine-room, also failed to Experience anything unusual. At this stage Mr. Prenderville read a telegram from the Bluff Harbour Board, protesting against the inquiry being held without sufficient notice to enable counsel and witnesses from. Bluff to attend. It was pointed out ohat no satisfactory instructions could be given to counsel on the /spur of the moment. The board strongly urged that, in justice to the board, the inquiry should. ,be adjourned to Bluff, Avhere the evidence of the pilot staff could be taken. Mr. Riddell said it Avas impossible to deal with the matter at that sitting. He thought that the case should be adjourned until the ship came back. It was only proper that the Bluff Harbour Board should be represented. Roy Kingsley Banderford, second officer, who assisted in taking soundings in. the neighbourhood of the occurrence, said they made investigations and discovered a rock at a depth of less than 2Tft 6in. When the drier Avent doivn short! yafterwards, lioAvever, he could not locate it, probably owing to the tact that the water was anything but

After hearing-further eiridence it A\ r as decided to adjourn the hearing sine die m order to give the Bluff Harbour -Board a- chance to produce ivitnesses and state the case from their standpoint.