The Taiaroa Disaster.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1688, 19 April 1886, Page 3

The Taiaroa Disaster.

I OFFICIAL ENQUIRY. ;.'■■■■ . . ■'•'." '■■'■'■■'■? ].', i(IER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION?.) O: Wellington, Saturday. ..The official enquiry ijnto the wreck jof; .the Taiaroa began this morning tiefci.re -* Mr Stratford, R.M., and Captain Mom^' Naaiticiil Assessor. Mr Travers appeared •! for Captain Thompson. The latter* Syas'i first- .examined. Tlie following are the principal points of evidence : — When the vessel got to Wellington Head she was started to west ; her usual course wa&f till the vessel reached Cape (Jauiijbelj ; ' deviated' three quarters of u '.-point 1 ifroiii -■-■' the true coiiree. The Taiaroa was swuug .- and had her compasses adjusted about 8 ■ months ago. The card winch was m tlie cabin showed j west of ; the deviation. There was a north-west wind blowing when.she left which gradually idied away when abreast Cape CAupblell. 'The Hauroto passed the Taiaroa sev-en miles this side of the Cape on the inside about a niile from the Taiaroa. Thje: Iviml •hanged to south afier passing, thfe Joa"pe "' and blew iirstffroin the south with jheayy rain. Witness i was on deck till 6|o'|:lobk when lie'went to tea ; could see land till between 4.30 and 5 p.m. ; but after ■ that rain obscured it, and only got' occasional ' glimpses ; there was a patent log and if ' ' was put out at Wellington Heads. iDurinsc K-.W. weather was eoing 10^ kr^ots, but after 6 p.aa. 9 knots. About ! 6.25

went on deck again but could not see land. Told the mate to keep a sharp look-out. Changed course about 4 p,m. to.S %W. Shortly after seven, land was reported right under port bow, but too dark to say what it was. Witness rushed up on the bridge and found helm being fiut hard astarboard ; gave orders for nil speed astern at the same moment she struck. When witness got on the' 1 bridge the telegraph pointed full speed ahead. Would not go astern but bumped heavily several times. Told the carpenter , to let off rookets and blue lights, an^ he set off one Of each. Ifc was supposed the, rest got too wet. Had no Hoknes- dlck^ lights on board. ■ -K>

(Special to the Standard.J Later. ., '•• Captain's evidence continued.— Heard no pasgengar ask him where , they were after striking, and would swear he never told any one they were five miles from Jtaikoura. His intention was to h'aye hung on to the ship and boarded 'her again, if she did not break up. -'Never looked at a compass after 4 p.m. Cqitfd not tell Court how he came to jrun; ashore. Had heard of a strong current vetting into the land since the wreck.' Latest. ■■■'-'■- The Taiaroa inquiry is adjourned till 10 a.m. Monday.

[The above items were published as » supplement to a portion of tUo Town Edition m our previous issue.]