LOSS OF TAHITI

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1930, Page 3

LOSS OF TAHITI

DUE TO PERIL OF SEA. 4 t . ‘ '-'finding of inquiry. AND CREW LAUDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association). it WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. i§ ( ML'P li e e ). to * da y delivered judgment in the Tahiti nautical inJ,uiry. i “'i After reviewing the evidence, the finding states ;-,r‘The Court is of opinoieh Ahat the pause of the loss was .of* the tail shaft just /forward of the- >f stern tube, oaising t.-afpiinefeurp. in the hull. The indications were that the break was a diagomdvone, and that the driven end, :pi%#diiig the other, flogged the he't&mff’ sapporfe tiirough the si<le of The shaft was a spare one, which had been used in the ship pr&vimfsly. -It-Avas put in at Sydney “itL'Jiiiyi 1929,/ when it was passed by “Ke i c|m#ny > A engineers and by the 'CHhfmonwealth Government 'arid Lloyd's surveyors. The ship would nevertheless have, been saved but for the—enginer.oom-ihulkhead being torn k at its base-by the violence of the rao.dng/M^ifginSr's' and by the disturbed •qiiignißfeht'f.'of the broken shaft. A at the top edge of the 7bfrts3h angle, where time and the elements had, doubtless, reduced the of the plate. Notwitffetaildir.g i; the efforts of the 'engiueFoom'lififfFrthe weight of water caused the rent to extend.

The report savs : “In our opinion, the ship was staunch and well found. Her loss was due to a peril of the sea, which no reason,“le human care or foresight could have avoided.” The ..finding says that the master displayed/resource and cool, accurate judgment, worthy of the hirhest praise, and all ranks responded to the example he set. His tenacity in staving off the desperate crisis which arose—the giving the final order to abandon ship—ensured the safely of those on board. Under a command Vss sure, a different story might have had to be recorded.

On the engineers and engjncroqm ;(H,d stokehold ...staff, f ed Lhe prune of 0e flght?? --‘Fdr close on sixty hours. 'Wfehou&’Sleep -and without respite,” says the report, “the engineers directed and waged a gallant “-ring fight against the relentless water, working for long periods deep in water, and in imminent danger of the collapse of the strained and rartISrtSft* bulkhead that imprisoned the wpJLf water high above them. It JOfh&ir courage and endurance that ma<feT- it possible for the master to delay until a propitious moment the giving ol the final order to abr ndon the ship. Wc deem it our duty to place on record the appreciation of t.ho conduct of the master and all those under him.”