ECHO INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1932, Page 2

ECHO INQUIRY

CAPSIZE AT WELLINGTON.

(Per Press Association — Copyright. ' WELLINGTON, December 12. The .Magisterial inquiry .mo the capsizing a the scov, Reno, oit 25th .Noceniuer opened to-uay beiore Mr i'-. rage, fc.ji. aim Lupiuuis u UKinsaii ... net ire a hurst.

Captain W. 0. Jarman said he left iheiiaeim at 1 p.ni. with about GO itilts of cargo, a light southerly smooth. Ab0.ut,7.10 p.m. the wind inacased anti way squali.er. lie went for. ,<ard mnisdi anu put the mate-and lookout on tile port side to watch for Mgius inside the harbour. Just before striking lie’ was estimating file ship lO be n quarter of a mile from tho shore, below the Pcncarrow 1 ght. He altered hial course, but he was a few yards short, and the ship stuck for 5 or 1U minutes. There wus a moderate lo heavy sea. The ship slewed off a oit. In the meantime the wheel chain was carried away, and the ship could not be steered, lie attempted to steer with toe engine, and began to come up tho harbour, but the control was insufficient, and lie dropped anchor at no out 10.30. The ship was making water, and she had a very heilvy list co port. The mate salt S.O.S. morse s.ghal, and later asked for a tug. Witness decided at 12.20 a.m. t-< abandon the ship, which was then well down in the water. He attributed the accident to heavy rain coming on just as they were crossing the entrance and trying to pick up the light. It shut o ut all the inside 1 ght, and blurred Pcncarrow. hive men were looking out for lights and they saw

none. Frank Edward Pnddick, who was on duty at the signal station at Beacon Hill when the Echo was making the harbour entrance, said that when he first saw the Echo she. was about a mile outside. There was then a strong breeze to a moderate gale blowing ,with heavy rain squalls. Witness called np the vessel, but he got no reply, and it was not until 10.30 p.m., when he got a message that the vessel was sinking, that he learned it was the Echo. He considered the Echo struck on tho Pillar Rock.

Edward Alfred Rate, mate of the. Echo, said that just after the ship had struck, he was ordered to get in touch with Wellington by radio, but the aerial was down, and, before he could do anything, water came into the cabin. The then morsed S.O.S. and got a flash in reply. Witness said that if the squall had come ten minutes earlier, or ten minutes, later there would have been no need foi an inquiry. “In fact, anyone with a powered ship at the time would have turned around and gone out again,” added witness in referring to the lack of visibility.

Charles Aloxnndor Kckfoyd, :nanag-> ing director of T. Eckford and Coy., Ltd., owners of the ’Echo, said the vessel was not insured. Of the cargo however, the wool butter, cheese and barley were insured by the owners The estimated cost of repairs to the hull would be about £6OO. He nevei had any doubt of Captain Jarman’s ability as a master.

Robert D. Anderson, A. 8., in the Echo, corroborated the evidence of the master and other members of the crew on the subject of the weather conditions.

Stafford Thomas William Adams, another A. 8., who had gone on watch at 8 p.m.,. gave details of the courses set.

This concluded, the evidence. Mr Prendeville submitted the two following questions to the Court.— (a) What Avas the cause cf the accident ? .

(b) Was any blame attachable to the master?

Mr Foyden, addressing the Court, said the explanation of the accident Avas the nature of the Aveather, and the fact that the squall had come just at- the moment it had. It Avas clear that a particularly good lookout had been kept and the \ r ery fact that not' one of the men had been able to estimate the ship’s position, suggested that there wa sa simple explanation. If anyone of the inner or outer lights had been picked up, the master could have altered the course suitably. Ho Avas making sure he Avould clear Barrett’s Itecf. The master had kept rather long on the course Avhich took him to the other side of the entrance. If a light could have been seen, all Avould have boen'AA’oll. His error, Mr Fodcn suggested, had been one of over, caution. Hq submitted that the incident might reasonably be put doAvn to misadventure. From the evidence there aats nothing Avhich shoAVed the master in a bad light. The Magistrate said the decision of the Court Avould he given to-morroAv.