COURT OF ENQUIRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1924, Page 1

COURT OF ENQUIRY.

[»Y TFXEdIIAPJI—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION

WRECK OF NGAHERE. WELLINGTON, .May 28.

/lie Court of Inquiry opened to-day in connection with the wreck of the steamer Ngahere at Greymouth on 12th May. Mr \\ . ,T. Riddell S.M. presided anti Captains Leach and .Muir were assessors.

James Gre.eu (Master of the Xgaliere) said the vessel was about fit) tons short of her load. Tie described tlie speeds taken in taking the vessel out and up to the time of striking, anti his efforts to got her olf. When the Chief Officer reported the engineers were up to their waists in water, action was taken to get the crew ashore. Heavy seas were breaking over the vessel. At the Xgahere inquiry, C'apt. Green ia continuing .said the spin was drawing Jilt. fliu. forward anti ]sl'i Biu. aft. At .cording tv. the Harbour Bond plan there should have been 17ft. of voter till the bar at low water. There was a flood tide. He expected 2-lft of water when lie went out. He had previously gone out drawing the same amount of water. -Cros.q-exaiminetl Captain Grerli said he asked the Harbourmaster if it was good enough for the Ngahere to go. The harbourmaster replied: Yes, get away as scon as you call in ease the sea comes up ; there’s plenty of water. Witness heard no whistle to signify that the Itegulus had hit the bar when she went out. He was quite satisfied that he carried out the orders from the harbourmaster. James Miller. Cliief (Uliecr, said be bad been trading to Greymouth lor twelve years. Ho saw nothing mi this

occasion to lead iiim in expert t rouble. William Arthur Wildmaii. who was in charge of the Itegulus on the day of the wreck, said his vessel was drawing I2f. Jin. lie struck the bottom fairly heavily at the lighthouse and sounded the whistle one short blast imniediateIv. The inner bar was the one struck.