TARARUA INQUIRY.

Patea Mail, 7 May 1881, Page 4

TARARUA INQUIRY.

At the inquest on the bodies of the passengers found after the wreck of the Tararau, the principal evidence was given by the first and second mates, to the following effect :

Robert Lindsay, deposed —I was chief officer of the Tararna. She left Dunedin on Thursday evening - . I had the watch from six to eight. The captain was on deck going out of the Heads. I again took charge till midnight, and stayed on deck till 4 a.m. The captain told me to call him at a quarter to four. I did so, and he came on deck. I was steering W .S.W., and he told mo to continue that course. At four o’clock the course was altered to W., and I went below. The captain gave orders to alter the course. The laud was in sight at four o’clock. I reckoned we were about five miles to the eastward of Waipapa Point at the time I went below. The course being altered brought the vessel farther in shore. I was was awoke by the vessel striking at a quarter past live. The captain was giving orders to call all hands to clear

away the boats. We cleared them all away, and hung them to the davit heads. We then waited till daylight to see about landing. The boats were all lifeboats, two having lifeboat fenders in them. I judge we were fifteen miles from where we struck when I went below at four o’clock, and going ten or ten and a quarter knots an hour. I hold amaster’s certificate. I was well acquainted with the coast, and considered the vessel to be the usual distance off the coast when I left the deck. I do not think the captain did wrong in altering her course. It was hazy on the land. It was a bright starlight night, with a haze on the horizon. We passed the Nuggets at 12 o’clock, about 4 miles off. I think we were five miles off the land when I went down, or from four to five. If a W.S.W. course had been kept the accident would not have happenedThe course was altered at the usual lime, but the ship might have overrun herself, or the reverse. It was about one o’clock when I began to think the vessel might break up. I do not think it would have been prudent to send the boats to sea with the passengers.” Edward Maloney, second mate, deposed': It is a very difficult thing to say how far the land is off when there is a haze. When I took charge I could not tell how far the land was away. The ship was steered the usual course, in fact she was steered a little out rather than anything else, because of the heavy swell setting in. I consider the captain was justified in altering the course. I presume the captain thought we had passed Waipapa Point when he changed the course to west. I supposed that the vessel had, and the captain was more positive than me about it that the ship was past Waipapa Point. I think where we struck was four miles from Waipapa Point. When I thought I heard breakers, and rushed aft, I found the captain working at his chart in his chart room.

Tbe verdict of the jury was “found drowned ” with a rider stating that a light should be placed on the Waipapa reef.