Nautical Enquiry.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1922, Page 1

Nautical Enquiry.

[by TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] AUCKLAND, July 12. Tlie nautical enquiry into the stranding of the Rona on Flat Rock, began this morning, James Alan .Wallis (master of the Ilona), stated ill his evidence that at ID a.m, oil June 27th he sighted Poor Knights and passed four miles west of Little Barrier. The weather conditions were good. Flat rock wa s sighted by the third officer about 6 p.m. Witness went on the bridge, and saw the light, a quarter point to starhoard, the how bearing south J east. , The Ilona doing about ten knots, was ' about 7 or 8 miles off the liglit. Witness then brought the light right ahead. The Chief Officer was on the bridge with Inn. About 6.15 p.m. lie gave the man at the wheel the order to bring the light right ahead. The custom was to steer straight for Flat Rock, till about a mile or a mile and a-half off, and then edge the ship inside. That night land about was dtscernable, hut if was not outlined point to take hearings from the westward. It was largely a matter of guess work to arrive at the moment of the turning point. Witness told the mate to steer for the light, and he lell the bridge. Cross-examined witness said when lie left the bridge he left an experienced officer. There seemed absolutely nothing to worry about, lie was changing to warmer clothing in his room, when the mate called out asking whether lie should pass inside or outside of the light, and lie replied inside, as usual. Fie was putting on his overcoat to go oil the bridge, when the vessel struck. Capt. Wallis continued:—He said to the mate:—“My God, what have you done.” The mate replied: “We have Lit Flat Hock. You put your trust in me, and 1 have let you down,” or words to that effect.

Witness then ordered t-lie boats to he swung out, and took other measures to safeguard lives. Mr Mays, (Counsel for the Department) : The mate says he called to von when he thought he was about n mile from the light. Can von account for him being a mile ahead of where he thought he was. Witness. —Ho miscalculated his distance I suppose. Witness added that he considered he was perfectly justified in leaving the bridge when lie did.

Asked how did the mate come to run on the rock, witness replied it is incomprehensible. Would the lighting of the trawler deceive him? Certainly not. he could not have mistaken his two lights. In reply to a. .question, witness said the look-out man On the forecastle head told him he called out before the Kona struck and asked“W as there anvhdv on the bridge. Sir?” Ihe man adiled that lie called out a warning when they were pretty close up. Cyril Grimily Chief Officer of the Kona stated in evidence. —About G p.m. he relieved the third officer on the bridge. Captain Wallis followed him on to the bridge. The third officer passed the word for the same course and said lie had raised Flat Rock light slightly on the starboard bow before the captain went below. He told the witness to head for the light. Witness steadied the ship on her course. W itness entered the chart room on the bridge for n couple of minutes at half past six to enter the order in the log hook. The ship struck at 6.-11. He said called down to the Master a couple of minutes before iliat. asking are you going inside and the Master replied: “Yes. the same as usual.” Ho was more than ordinarily careful, hut that was not owing'to the weather conditions.