NAUTICAL INQUIHY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 9, 23 September 1879, Page 2

NAUTICAL INQUIHY.

«. A preliminary enquiry into the stranding of the B.s. Storinbird took place at the Foxton Custom House on Friday lust, September 19, before J. Burgess, Esq., Collector. l'eter Doile, master of the steamer, deposed — We arrived off the bar about 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17 ; we took the Mary Ogilvio in tow about 9 a.m., and crossed the bar at 9.20 ; shortly afterwords wo grounded on the north beach of the river ; we were steering by the directions givon us by the pilot ; the tide was three-quarter flood ; there was no sea on at the timo, but a little around swell ; the cause of the vessel going on shore was the north spit having ultered more than the pilot was aware of ; soundiugs were being taken at the time ; we got off auain at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 18 j there is no damage done to either cargo or vessel, with the exception of about ten tons of coal I threw overboard in order to lighten her, and one cable broken in trying to heave her off ; if the cable had not broken, ' I could have got the vessel off the next tide after she grounded ; the cable was in good order for the ordinary working of the ship, but not for any emergency ; the anchors were quite suitable for the Bhip ; I followed exactly the direotions given me by the pilot ; I do not know whether the cool is insured or not ; the Storinbird draws 7ft 6in. ordinarily, and Bft when deep ; I ' consider she is suitable for trading to this port ; I telegraphed to Wellington for an ] anchor and hawser ; the boat belonging to i the ship is quite capable of carrying the anchor; I consider it quite safe for the ] Storunbird to tow vessels over the bar at i thia port, and that the towing-in of the i Mary Ogilvie had nothing to do with her I grounding ; we carry a 6 inch hawser on i board, about 65 fathoms in length ; it was i in good order at tho time of the accident ; i the chain cable has never been tebted to my i knowledge ; it has been in use for 15 years. . Andrew fceabury, pilot, deposed — I was at i the pilot station on the 17th September, < when the steamer Stormbhd arrived off tho < bar ; between 9 find 10 o'clock, she was tow- i ing the schooner Mary Ogilvie ; I gave her i the signal for her to come in, and guided ] her in over the bur ; after she had crossed i the bar she grounded on the north beach ; t the captain attended to all the signals I gave <

!iim ; I considered he was in the right course, anrl he must have grounded in conM*quence -^ if the spit being further out than I was ware > of; I take soundings and examine the chail r """'\ nel whenever it is possible ; I had done so [ho day before (he steamer- arrived ; I consider vessels arriving at this port are generally badly found in anchors and chains for US3 in ense of emergency ; there was no reason why the 6teamer should not have towed in the schooner ; I consider it had nothing to do wi'.li the accident. Thomas F. tftanbury, mate of the Stormbird, gave evidence confirmatory of the general facts. He also deposed — foundings were taken until the vessel grounded ; I had no reason to think the course the pilot indicated was wrong ; the same night we tried to get her off, but the chain cable parted ; if it hud not been for the breaking of the cable I believe she wonld have come off that tide ; the cable is old ; if it had been in good order, 1 consider it ought to have held ; at the time the cable parted, one ton of coal had been thrown, overboard ; the next day we threw over nine tons more. Captain Bendall, surveyor to Association of Underwriters, deposed — I have been on board the steamer Stormbird fines she grounded, and I am of opinion that she has received no damage to keel or machinery ; I have also inspected the chain cable, and consider it old and worn out, and the ship should be supplied with at least one new cable ; the boats appear to be sufficient according to the requirements of the Act, but are not suitable in case of emergency, such as the present case of grounding ; lam also of opinion that she was not sufficiently supplied with hawsers, in case of an accident. This concluded the investigation.