MAGISTERIAL ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1931, Page 5

MAGISTERIAL ENQUIRY

PROGRESS WRECK

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 21. The Progress inquiry was continued to-day.

in reply to a question Captain Wilson ol the Terawliiti said his judgment a lx-at going outside was not affected by the tact that the Toia had come back.

“Is your tug as good a sea-going vessel as the Toia, m rough Vieath-

“No ; I haye never been on the Toia and am going on guesswork and the bund of the ship. The Tours raised bow would be of great assistance in getting through in high seas, but it would be against her in other manoeuv res. ' ‘‘Which of the tugs had the better chance of doing something for the Progress at the time you went out?" “The hour had struck for tug work it was not then a job 'for tugs, but for a lifeboat.”

Witness replied to another qeustion that it would be correct to describe the sea as tempestuous. When he went out to the Heads it was blowing a fresh gale.

“Would it be safe to manoeuvre n tug within a mile of that leeshore?” Reply.—-" That's a dirty little corner I would say it was dangerous.” Questioned in regard to the Toia, witness said she was known as a deep water tug. That class of ship was brought out during the war for the purpose ofl rescuing torpedoed ships and towing them into port. He would say that such a tug was not meant for manoeuvring close in shore in heavy weather. They had proved a failure wherever they had been tried in N.S. W. where there were a number of such tugs. The bows had been cut down in all except two, because of their extreme awkwardm <Js. The high bow provided a great wind suffaee, making the hoat extremely hard to manoeuvre in a strong, wind They could not lose way when manoeuvring in confined areas' or the wind would take charge. She was a single screw ship and it took very much more room to turn a single screw ship than

a twin screw.” “Of course Captain, you realised the position the ship was in and the danger to the crew?” “Yes.” “So you think nothing could be done ?” “1 don’t think so, or else I would have gone.” Witness said it would have been possible to make the passage hut he could iVntseiid' v nu!ti to drown on deck to attend to a hawser on account o'f the danger of being wuslicrjl over* honrd. To the Magistrate, witness said the main difficulty he had in mind was the nearness of the Progress to the shore. “Would it have been possible to stand a little windward and either pick up a float from her or drop one hnvn to her. ?” “! wouldn’t like to go in there at nil,” witness said. “There was a danger of the crew ducking to avoid a wave and letting the hawser go oyerboard, to become entangled with the propeller.”