WRECK OF THE STEAMER QUEEN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 86, 12 April 1867, Page 2

WRECK OF THE STEAMER QUEEN.

[From the Wellington Advertiser.] An enquiry was held in the Resident Magistrate's Court, before J. C. Crawford, Esq., R.M., Captain Benson, who acted on the occasion as Nautical Assessor, Mr. Balfour, Marine Surveyor, and Mr. R. J. Duncan, relative to the wreck of the s.s. Queen, on Cook's Rock, on Friday night. The following evidence was taken : — Ferdiuand Charles Kreeffc : I was master of the late s.s. Queen, belonging to the New Zeaiand Steam Navigation Company (Limited); I hold a certificate of competency from the Board of Trade, as a master, No. 743 I think ; this certificate is in the hands of Mr. Seed, the Collector of Customs ; I also hold a New Zealand certificate for steam ;- it is also deposited with Mr. Seed ; we sailed from Wellington wharf about 5 - 30 p.m., on Friday, the sth instant; the weather was moderate and cloudy ; wind N.W. ; about 8 p.m. we were off Terawiti; the wind then freshened to a gale; Terawiti at 8 p.m. bore about E., 4 miles distant ; we then hauled up about N.N.W. At 8 p.m. we saw Mana lighfc bearing about north ; soon afterwards we made out the land on the South Island. About 11*20 p.m. I took the bearings of Cape Koemaru ; it bore S.W. by compass; allowing for deviation it bore S.W. h W. correct magnetic, distance about 6 miles. Mana light then bore E. by S. corrected for deviation. We were then running about 7 knots an hour on a N.W. £ N. course, or corrected for deviation N-W. by N. At 11*55 p.m. the ship struck. We had previously seen the Brothers, after we passed them ; they bore S. by W., or corrected for deviation S. by W. £ W., or S.S.W. about 6 or 7 miles distant; between 11*20 and 11*55 we steered the same course, about N.W. by N. corrected ; between 11*20 and 11*55 p.m. the wind was moderating; it was still a strong bi*eeze from N.W. The night was dark but starlight. The tide was ebb from 9 p.m. ; ifc was spring tides ; the ebb runs to S.S.E. I cannot say when the ship was last, swung for deviation; it was not done since I joined her; I had command of her only for a week this last time, bufc commanded her before from June until Decemher of 1866 ; she was laid up in the interim. The card for deviation, which is on board, is marked

1866 ; it is lost with the ship ; I think it was signed by Robertson, of Otago; I have no copy of the card. I have not latterly been in the habit of correcting my compasses by observation; I cannot say whether the compasses were in error. I think the deviation must have been wrong, but I had no time to take observations since I last joined. I did not sound. I did not consider it necessary ; the depth thereabouts is about 60 to 80 fathoms. Tbe .soundings are no guide in that part of the Straits ; the depth is too great. The chief ofiicer was iv charge of the deck. The look-out man was on the bridge, which is his usual station when uo sail is set; when we struck I could see Cape Koemaru, Mana light, and Jackson's Head; the last bearings I took wc-re about 11*50 p.m.; Mana then bore well to the southward of east; I did not note the exact bearings; at 11*45 we altered the course to N.W. | N. by compass; I considered that we were then well clear of Cook's Rock; the previous evidence that I have given as to course between 11*20 and 1V55 p.m. was the mean course ; it had beeu altered slightly ; wheu the ship struck the tide was about three-fourths ebb ; we found a very strong tide running on tbe rock; wheu the ship struck tbe chief officer, myself, and the look-out man were on the bridge; I tbink also a Mr. Barker, an engineer ; after we struck the engine was reversed by my orders, and the ship came off the rock ; when sufficiently distant from the rock we stopped and went ahead again for the purpose of pumping out the water ; we found the water running so fast tbat w r e stopped to lower the boats ; three boats were lowered, and the crew and passengers left the ship about a quarterof an hour after she struck. When I left the ship she was about half full of water; the lights disappeared about twenty miuutes after we left her. There was no loss of life. There were five cabin and one steerage passengers ; they aud the crew were all saved. The cargo consisted of 18 kegs of butter and 50 empty casks ; no cargo was saved. The ship w r as fitted with three watertight bulkheads ; we supposed tbat the aftermost compartment was the oue stove iv ; I think that tbe middle oue was also stove. When she struck it appeared to be one stroke ; sbe bumped several times afterwards ; It felt like a fiat rock. The ship had a proper number of boats to cary a full complement of passengers ; there were twenty-nine souls on board, including passengers. The msils were ordered to be put iv the boats, but I cannot find out whether they were or uot. The chief engineer aud myself were the last to leave the ship. I saw the Brothers at 11*20 p.m., bearing S. by W. by compass. G-eorge Edmonds : I was chief officer of the late s.s. Queen ; I do not hold a certificate of competency. I was officer of the watch on the evening of the sth instant; the weather was moderate N.W., and cloudy. We were off Terawiti when I took charge of the watch ; the course was given me by second officer, N.W. ■£ N. hy compass at 8 p.m. ; we steered on that course until between 9 and 10 p.m., when the captain ordered me to alter the course to N.N.W. About 11*20 we sighted the Brothers ; they bore S. by W., compass ; I made Maua Island hear E. \ N., compass. I think we then steered N.W. hy N. ; I speak from memory, as the logbook was lost hefore my watch was out. About 11*40 I remarked to the captain the ship's head had fallen off to N.W. \ W., compass. He said it was right, and took the bearings of, I think, Cape Koemaru; it hore about S.W. About 11-55 the ship struck ; we had previously seen a little tide rip, but nothing more than usual. I think she struck on the starboard quarter. The bearings I have taken are all compass bearings. I have not seen the deviation, and the bearings were taken by the bridge compass, which was, I consider, the standard compass. Edward Wheeler : I am a master mariner, holding a master's certificate of competency from the Board of Trade. I have commanded steamers on the New Zealand coast for about eight years. I am well acquainted with the navigation of Cook's Strait. Considering the position ofthe ship at 11*20 p.m., as given by the cross bearings of the Brothers and Cape Koemaru, the state of the tide, and the course steered, the ship ought to have gone well to the S.E. of Cook's Rock ; I consider the ebb tide would have • caught her on the port how. On account of the strength of the tides, it is impossible to make a straight course across Cook's Strait within five or six miles. '

The tide is almost two hours different on one side of the Strait from whafc ifc is on the other. With a strong N.W. breeze, ifc is usual to make for Jackson's Head. Archibald Kennedy: I am a master mariner, holding a certificate of competency from the Marine Department of New Zealand. I have commanded steamers for twelve and a half years on the coast of New Zealand, and am well acquainted with the navigation of Cook's Strait ; taking the position of the ship afc 11*20 p.m., as given by the cross bearings of the Brothers and Cape Koemaru, and considering the strength and direction of the ebb tide, the course given ought to have taken the ship clear of Cook's Eock, unless there was considerable local deviation not accounted for. The Brothers divide the ebb. The tide, between 11*20 and 11*55, would have been nearly .'.'right ahead. I am generally in the.. habit. of passing iuside the Brothers even at night; if it was very a dark night, I should keep well over to Mana-light, and then steer for Steven's Island, if bound to Nelson; I sbould not steer that way if going through the French Pass ; I have heen through the Pass in a dark night, to save the tide afc Nelson. It is usual, with a strong N.W. wind, to make Jackson's Head without delay. Frederick Renner : I am a master mariner, holding a certificate of competency from the Board of Trade in London. I have commanded steamers Ou the coast of New Zealand for eight years, and am well acquainted with the navigation of Cook's Strait. Considering the position of the ship at 11*20 p.m. as given by the cross bearings of Cape Koemaru and the Brothers, the state of the tide and the course steered, I consider the ship ought to have cleared Cook's Rock. 1 consider the course taken across the Strait to be a correct one for a vessel bound to the French Pass. With a strong N.W. breeze it is usual to make for Jackson's Head as soou as possible. Captain Kreeft, recalled : I expected to make the French Pass about 4 a.m. on the 6th. I was going that way to save the tide in Nelsou. Joseph Nancarrow : I am an engineer surveyor and inspector of steamers under the "Steam Navigation Act, 1866." I surveyed the late s.s. Queen periodically. I surveyed her last about tbree months ago ; she was then in good order, both in hull aud machinery. The requirements of the Act were all complied witb, except the swingiug for deviation — there is no provision in this port for performing this duty. A report of the euquiry will be made to the Postmaster-General in the usual manner.