NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1925, Page 3

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

into paktcha mishap. WELLINGTON, February fi. The nautical inquiry into the cause of the mishap to the steamer Pakeha •was continued to-day. Air Lain, Chairman of the Bluff Harbour Board, said the Board had gone to considerable expense in blasting and dredging the Mararoa Bock. Since June 3rd, everything had been done to test the channel to the harbour for the purpose of ascertaining it there was any obstruction which might have caused damage to the Pakeha. Up to the present nothing had been discovered. The Board also wrote to the Marine Department asking them to undertake a survey, and he personally saw the Minister regarding the matter. The Board was very anxious to clear the matter up. Witness did not thinks the marks on the vessel’s, bottom had been received in the channel. His theory was that the. vessel '“"’'struck when she was rolling, but she

did not roll in the channel. Captain Clifton Mogg, master of the vessel, cross examined regarding the distances the vessel was from, certain points on the coasts during the trip from Port Chalmers to Bluff, said on one trip he had noticed that the Wnipapa Point was wrongly chartered, and had written to the Admiralty on the subject. At the time of the mishap, on .Tune 3rd, he was mi the bridge and heard two sounds, as the vessel was going up the channel. When lie. heard the first sound, he did not associate it with striking, hut when lie hoard the second, ho expressed an opinion to th>) pilot tint- tIW YfW?l BtTWfei