LATE STRANDING OF THE S. S. KENNEDY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 302, 22 December 1874, Page 4

LATE STRANDING OF THE S. S. KENNEDY.

Tho Grey River Argus of the 15 th fast reports : — Air official inquiry was held at the Custom House yesterday, before D. Lundon, Esq., Collector of Customs, into the recent stranding of the c.a. Kennedy on the north beach. William Con way, master of the b.s. Kennedy, said : After leaving Westport we arrived of! the Grey bar at 11*30 a.m. The signals were given, and I attempted to come in. A moderate sea was on. We crossed the bar all right. Inside the bar there was a sort of drawback, which took the vessel aßtern, Bnd grounded her on the point of the Spit. Kept the engines going fail speed ahead to prevent her going round the point of the Spit, which, if she had done, there was a great danger of her getting broken, up. She ultimately got driven up on the beach. Every effort was used to get her afloat but without success, as the tide did not come near her for six days afterwards. No serious damage was done, only a few rivets were looeened. It cost about £600 to get her off. I can attach no blame to any one either on beard or on shore. Andrew Dobbie, engineer of the Kennedy, said : I was below at the time of the accident. The telegraph was sent to keep full speed ahead, and was never altered. The engines were kept going as long as water could be got for the injections. We went ovtr the bar with 41b. less steam. There was no injury— only the boiler spruDg np is back again in its old place. James Stalker, signalman at the port of Greyrooutb, said : On the 12th of November last the Kennedy appeared off the bar at 10 a.m.; put up signals at the flagstaff to wait for tide, owiDg to a bit of a swell. I did not like to bring him in when be first came down, and gave signals to watch a smooth sea to come in. At 11*20 gave the signal to take the bar, sod at 11*30 he came over the bar all right, but got ioto the drawback and grounded on the Spit on the north beach. Every effort was made to save the ship, and there was no neglect on the captain's part whatever, as iar as I could see. Harbormaster Allardyce said that the sea that was running at the time the Kennedy arrived was not sufficient to prevent her crossing the bar. LookiDg at the vessel after she crossed he thought there was a defect in her steam power, as he saw her drifting away astern. In his opinion Captain Conway imd every effort to get the veesel in, and after grounding, in saving the vessel and passengers. The opinion of the Collector of Customs was not given in writing, but is to this effect that the cause of the vessel was owing to its want of steampower, and that do blame whatever was attributable to Captain Conway.