LOSS OF THE P.S. "STURT."

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 829, 30 September 1870, Page 2

LOSS OF THE P.S. "STURT."

We take Jthe following particulars of the accident to this vessel from the Press, of the 23rd instant. Capt. Dyason's report says ;—" Left the wharf, Kaiapoi, at 12.20 p.m., proceeded down river with ketch Margaret in tow. Nearing the bar saw the signalman had the bad bar signal hoisted. £et go the ketch with the intention of letting go my anchor, and in the act of letting go saw the signalman waving his hat, J took no notice till he hoisted the ' bar safe' signal. I then proceeded on, and found when on the bar there was not water' enough to take the boat over. My mtentien then was to try and back her off, when the engineer informed me that the starting bar was broken, so that I was quite left to the mercy of the sea apd tnie. J proceeded at once to Kaiapoi to give notice to the owpers, and called on two masters of vessels to hold a survey, and give me a report what should be done for the benefit of all parties," Captains Whitby and Brown held the survey, The vessel has been abandoned to the underwriters. On Thursday inoruing she had tilled with water, and towards noon had settled so that her back broke, as well as the bed of the engine. The cargo is nearly all damaged, and will probably be sold by auction. An inquiry into the wreck, before tbe Customs Collectors, will pro-

bably take place to-morrrow at Kaiapoi, At present the sea is washing at high water clear over the vessel, and of coursa she must sink to some extent in the sand. It is of course not quite certain whether the machinery js intact or not, the engine was half worn and the boilers nearly done. She was the property of Messrs, Belcher and Fairweather of Kaiapoi, and her loss is no doubt a very serious affair for the port. An insurance had been effected on her for ,£I,OOO in the Australasian Company, which amount is perhaps under her value, though purchased from the Government for .£9OO. The cargo at the time of the accident was fully insured with the Pacific Company for 42850, The Times of the 24th says that the wreck has been sold by auction for JS4I, the purchaser being Mr C. Oram. This sum includes all her running gear and engines, the greater portion of which is expected to be secured. A magisterial inquiry was held on the 26th on the loss of the Sturt at Kaiapoi. The evidence taken exonerates the captain. The accident occurred owing to part of the machinery giving way while the tide was running out.