THE MARORO

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 2 December 1927, Page 5

THE MARORO

GROUNDING AT BLACKHEAD INQUIRY OPENS AT NAPIER. CAPTAIN’S EVIDENCE. The enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the recent grounding of the scow Maroro. of Gisbuine, on the sands at Blackhead, near Porangahau. was continued in Napier this morning before a Court consisting of Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., Captain W. White Parsons'(harbourmaster at Napier), and Captain W. R Allen (shore master for Richardson and Co.). Mr W. Rose represented the Customs Department, while Mr M. R. Grant appeared for the master of the vessel. Captain J. W. Jones. Captain John W. Jones, in charge of the ship, stated that at Cape Turnagain the weather began to freshen. About ten miles further on it was necessary to hove to -.nd head for the land. In this way he continued the trip and arrived at Cape Palliser at about 6-30 on October 20. The sea became choppy and the wind increased, so witness endeavoured to enter Port Underwood, but the wind was too strong, go to Napier to get shingle ballast bell. The gale from the north-west increased, so witness decided to go back to Castle Point, behind the lighthouse. The ship was unable to be anchored so witness decided to go to Napier to get shinglge ballast and lubricating oil. to enable the ship to get to Greymouth. He proceeded up the coast, but the weather increased, and the barometer read 29.44, so he did not think it prudent to go round Cape Kidnappers. He therefore decided to shelter in Blackhead over night. He brought the ship into this bay and took various soundings. With the weather still bad from the N.W.E. and the barometer not rising, he deemed it prudent to go further into land. He anchoreed on November 23rd in three and a-half fathoms. Witness took every precaution in case of trouble and went to bed at 8p m. At midnight he was on deck again and conditions were fairly good. He went back to oed again, but an hour later he felt a roll coming in the bay. He then made preparations to get out and go round Cape Kidnappers. The vessel commenced to drag two anchors with the engine going. About 4 O'clock the boat struck the Blackhead reef twice. On the second time witness stopped the main engine and endeavoured to “snub” the Boat round so as to beach her. She was a flat-bottomed vessel, and witness thought this the best method of saving her. More by good luck than good management the snubbing operations were successful, and he reached Richardson’s < strike the beach. When the vessel was high and drv witness examined the holds and found only two inches

of water on the starboard side, and none on the port, just the same as when in sailing trim Witness walked over the hills and communicated with his owners after taking what precautions he could to stop the boat from shifting. To Mr. Kose: Witness said he was familiar with the coast and had been on it for six years. Blackhead had appeared to be a suitable place to anchor. The Huanui had been anchored there on one occasion. The Maroro was a flat-bottomed boat with two centre boards. According to New Zealand pilots Blackhead was a safe anchorage for all off-shore winds. Witness did not anticipate the sudden change of the wind to ' the south as there was a banking of the clouds towards the north. To Mr. Grant: Witness stated the second mates, two A.B. sailors and the second engineer were on deck on the 12 to 4 a.m, watch. When in Blackhead witness expected to get. north-west winds shifting by west and possibly to south-west as this was the class of weather expeneneed from Gisborne. He had not experienced any southern weather on the trip and had no reason to anticipate a change. To the Court, witness stated that the scow Kainia had twice experienced difficulties owing to wind and sea changes when undertaking the salvage of the Maroro FIRST MATE’S EVIDENCE. The first mate, James Duthie, stated that when the boat anchored the conditions in Blackhead were good but two hours later they were bad. The engineer advised that the ship be allowed to remain at the anchorage until daylight. The sea became very heavy and the wind blew a hurricane. He thought the captain did the right thing. * Mr. Rose: Do you think it was the best place to go?—Yes. Mr. Mowlem (with a smile): What, on shore?—Yes. Ag things turned out had w e left an hour earlier we . would have been on the reef itself. IL Continuing his evidence witness ’stated that he had had four years’ experience on the coast and had once been anchored in the bay PULMONAB FOR QUICK RELIEF. "Seeing an advertisement about Pulmonas, I sent for them and can honestly say I didn't regret it, and I have not a sign of cold or a sore throat now.” Pulmonas. too, are especially valuable for coirnhs, bronchitis. influensa etc. They ease stuffiness and cut the pb'egm. At chemists 1/0 and 8/o.* Miss Hunter. D.D.S., American and London Specialist (Regd.) in Electrolysis.—Hairs (400 per hour), moles, warts and any elevated blemishes permanently and painlessly destroyed by my most up-to-date 12 needle machine. Strictly private and individual attention given. Tiffen Park House, next to Municipal Theatre, Napier. Telephone .1078. Tuesdays only 2 to 7 p.m.* •TUDBAKER HOLDS ALL BTOOK CAR WORLD'S RECORDS FOR SPEED AND ENDURANCE. Cablegram received to-day from the ■ factory states that with 25,000 mile record recently established on Atlantic Citv course by Studebaker Commander and previous Stock car records captured bv Erskine and Director models, Studebaker now holds every official American Automobile Association Stock car record for endurance and speed regardless of power or price. This is a most unique* testimonial to Studebaker" performance and stamina in automobile history —The Tourist Motor Co., Ltd.. Hastings. Studebaker Distnbrrora.*