The Wairarapa Enquiry.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 48, 14 December 1894, Page 4

The Wairarapa Enquiry.

Mr Nortbcroft, S.M., in giving judgment on the Wairarapa wreck, said the Court was of opinion that the "Wairarapa was lost through Captain Mcintosh and the first and second officers not taking the correct point of departure from the Three Kings, and in not allowing for the current which, b> their first and second officers' evidence, they should have been aware was running" to the east and south east. Why accurate bearings should not have been taken, and the ship's course positively fixed, seems inexplicable, knowing that they had allowed for the current with an easterly swell, with the wind from north to north-east; still nothing was done, but the ship driven at full steam through fog so dense that at times they could not see more than two ships' lengths ahead till she struck, though they did not know where they were. As the captain was in charge the whole time, never leaving the deck or bridge, he alone was to blame for the loss of the vessel, and though neglect was shown, in our opinion, by the jchief officer, after the wreck, in not utilising the available boats at bis disposal, the Court did not think there was that degree of negligence to entitle the Court to cancel or suspend his certificate or any of the other officers. Had the captain not been drowned, no doubt his certificate would have been cancelled. I think that the crew did not know what to da to get the boats out in the most expeditious manner. It could hardly be expected to be otherwise, they not having had even the farcical boat drill for over six months. After dwelling on the mismanagement and smashing of the boats, and the ship's company remaining on the vessel, the Court went on to say that they did not do what might always have been expected from British seamen worthy of the name, when there were women and children passengers in peril. There was time to get the passengers to the rigging, but nothing was done in this direction. A few got there unaided. No censure was too severe for the conduct of the chief officer with regard to the raft he saw drifting towards the Needles with people; and boats available but not used. No doubt the people were drowned off the raft a considerable time after the wreck. The second officer's conduct was of a negative character. The third officer only rose to the occasion, and suggested that the boats be kept swung out on board daring the fog.