VICE-ADMIRALTY COURT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5017, 23 April 1877, Page 2

VICE-ADMIRALTY COURT.

Saturday, April 21

(Before the Worshipful James Prendergast, Esq., Judge).

IN THE MATTER OP THE STEAMSHIP TAUPO, CARET, MASTER.

Mr Travers for the captain and owners ; Mr. Chapman (instructed by Messrs. Izard and Bell) for the owner of the hulk Eli Whitney. Thomas Bowling, master of the barque Adamant, called and examined by Mr. Chapman ; I remember the 23rd February. I was

that night aboard my vessel, which was lying off the end of the wharf—between the wharf and Te Aro baths—about five or six hundred yards from the wharf. It was a very dark night. Before retiring for the night I told the watchman to look out that the hulk India, about fifty or sixty yards from us, did not swing foul of us. Shortly after I got to sleep the watchman woke me up, and in consequence of what ho told mo, I had a boat manned, and wo went in search of people whom the watchman had heard screaming. I directed the boat to the spot from which I judged the last scream I heard to have come. We saw nothing. It was so dark that I lost sight of my vessel when we had got about 150 yards from her. The hulk India was sheering about very much in the wind. \V e landed from the boat near Kebbell’s mill. In our way to that spot we must have passed some other craft, but it was so dark we could not sec them ; certainly I did not particularly look for them. Cross-examined: I judge we had left the ship ton minutes when we lost sight of her. Wo were pulling with wind and sea, and we had four oars. Ido not think we had travelled more than 150 yards, as we were pulling beam on to the sea. Perhaps the men rowed twenty ,or thirty strokes per minute, and perhaps we might have been carried two feet per stroke —not more. I know the position of the sunken hulk. I should say it is 400 or 500 yards distant from the extreme northern point of the wharf.

I presume your estimate that your vessel was fifty or sixty yards from the India is based upon the . same calculations as those upon which you base your estimate of the distance from the wharf to the Eli Whitney?—Yes. Which do you consider nearer the mark 400 yards or 500 yards?—soo yards. Very well. I suppose you would be surprised to find that the distance is under 2?0

yards by actual triangulation?—Well, it is diffi. cult to give an estimate.

Mr. 'J, ravers directed witness’s attention to a plan of the assumed positions of the Taupo when leaving the wharf, the moorings of the Oao and the hulk Eli Whitney, and asked if he thought it a safe manoeuvre on the part of the master of the Taupo to attempt to pass between the Clio and the Eli Whitney?— Witness; Yes.

Assuming the Taupo had not starboarded her henn until her stern had just cleared the Olio would it then have been safe. The distance between the Clio and the hulk was 290 ft.; the .steamer is 224 ft., so that when she had cleared the Clio there were but 22 yards intervening between her head and the hulk. She was steaming, say, at the rate of five miles an hour, with the N. W. wind right across her bows. Under those circumstances would it have been a safe manoeuvre ? —No, But she would have starboarded her helm before getting so far.

As a master of a vessel would you not have gone round the vessels in preference to going between them ?—No. I should have gone through, because I should have kept to the windward as much as possible such a night. It would have made 40 or 50 yards difference. I consider that material.

John Orlando, A. 8., of the ship Adamant, proved that he had kept watch on the night in question, and gave evidence generally as to the weather.

The Court then adjourned.