LOSS OF THE AORERE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10608, 5 June 1920, Page 7

LOSS OF THE AORERE

REMARKABLE EVIDENCE CREW ASKS CAPTAIN FOR SPORTING CHANCE. "DON'T LET US DROWN IN* THE DARK." TEE TRESS ASSOCIATION. WANGANUI, June 4. Tho official inquiry into the loss of the steamer Aorero on Rangitikei beach on May 23rd, was held to-day, the magistrate (Mr J. AVyvern Wilson) presiding, with him as assessors being Captain White and Captain MoNab. Captain Crotty said he had been in charge of the steamer for about a month. Ho left Blenheim for Wanganui on the 21st. Going from Wangauui to Blenheim previously, the vcinel touched after crossing the channel in Blenheim, what witness thought was a big boulder. She made- water going up the river, and the engine pumps were always "going. She was a dry iship after reaching the wharf at Blenheim, but next morning it was reported to him that there wero two feet'o) water in the engine-room, but she waa again pumped dry with the hand pumps. No more water was made fthile the vessel was lying at the wharf, but when going down the river the pumps had to bo used frequently. Ho did not know much about thtj ship but thought that with a favourable trip acro-« he could reach Wangnnui. He know heforo crossing the Wairau bat that she leaked and that the engine pump was defective. The weather was favourable when he left Jackson's Head, and the engine pump worked all right till about 10 o'clock at night, when the engines stopped. He learned from the engineer that this was done to enable the water to be pumpd out. VESSEL "OPENS UP."

As soon as the vessel" got into rough water she opened up, and made water. After the engines stopped the vetssel continued' .under sail, but about midnight the engines got going again, and the water was kept under. They sighted land off Turakina about 7 o'clock in the morning, and about 10 o'clock he sent for the engineer, and' told him he would have to make for Kapiti, the wind and sea were increasing and steam was decreasing owing to the coal in the bunkers being wet. Instead of getting 501 bof steam, they were only getting about 251 b. PLEA OF EXHAUSTED CREW. t Captain Crotty, continuing, said that about two hours after leaving Jacks.on's Head tho stokehold plates were awash in one or two feet of water. He did not turn baok because ho -thought it advisable to come across, eten if he had to rnn to Kapiti. At 10 o'clock on Sunday morning there were about nineteen-bags of dry coal in the forehold, and this was used soon, As witness put the ship's head towards Kapiti the men could not work the deck pumps as seas were going over them. By'noon they had got to 14 miles south of Wanganui, and the engines were still working. Ho then headed back for Wanganui, but an hour later the chief officer camo up and said the men wero exhausted after pumping for about 21 hours. He asked him to give them a sporting chance and beach the vessel in daylight, as they did not want to drown in the dark. STEAM GIVES OUT.

About 1 o'clock ho again turned to Kapiti, but an hour arid a half later the engineer said he had no steam lett. The vessel waa then under sail, and ho asked the engineer to give him lOlbs of steam, hoping to make Foxton. The men came to him again, asking for a sDorting chance, so he decided to boacn the vessel, and she drifted broadside.on. Ho attributed "he loss to £he springing of an excessive leak. Ho never reported at Blenheim tliat the vessel had struck a boulder, as he was waiting till he got to Wanganui. Witness said that the seas running were enormous. THE MATE'S STORY.'

W. O. Jarman, who had been mate since the end of January, said he was on the vessel when she touched Farewell Spit in February. In March, on the way from Grcymoiith, ho had to throw part of the timber cargo overboard due to the vessel leaking badly. He thought the engines stopped. When the main engine pump used to get choked with, coal he usually relied on the hand pump. Tho vessel was overhauled in March and her bottom was then thoroughly sound. After leaving Jackson's Head the ship started to roll, and the engine pump became blocked with coal. The whole crew had to work the hand pump. The wind shifted and the sea increased, and the water gained on tho pumping. The engineer all this time was ondeavouring to clear the steam pump. Coal started to wash out of the bunkers. When land was Highted on Sunday morning there were four or live inches of water above/ the stokehold plates Pumping was continuous. Coal waa taken from the fore hatch, while the cabin was dismantled ftud tliu flooring; of the after hatch and after galley was used in trying to got up steam, hut they could not raise « pound. In the course of further evidence, the mate said ho attributed tho abandonment to the leaky stato of the vessel. It was impossible to save the OTHER EVIDENCE. William Hyslop, ■ engineer, said tho vessel had always* leaked more or less. Tho steam failed when the vessel was at Wanganui, owing to coal being washed from the bunkera into the bilgcu, where they could not roach it. James White, a scaman ! said that when he was in the ship's bunker prior- to the stranding ho saw tho floor lifting every time the vessel heeled over. John Horn, A. 8., said the veesel leaked after coming off the slip at Wanganui. Three gave evidence, and stated that tho vessel was properly repaired at Wanganui, and came off tho slip in a seaworthy condition. Tho inquiry is proceeding.