JUDGMENT IN THE TARARUA ENQUIRY.

Patea Mail, 7 June 1881, Page 4

JUDGMENT IN THE TARARUA ENQUIRY.

A lengthly judgment has been given by the Court of Enquiry into the wreck of the Tararua. The Court found that the wreck and loss of life was principally caused through the failure of Captain Garrard to ascertain, at 4 a.m. on the 29th of April, the correct position of the ship, when the simple heaving of the lead would have told him his distance from the shore. He was also blamed for sailing an insecure course, for not heeding the warning by the second officer who fancied he heard breakers, and for ordering the officer in charge of the ship to leave the bridge to personally call the captain from his berth. In the opinion of the Court the immediate cause of the wreck and loss of life was the negligent failure of the a le seaman, Weston,.to keep a proper look-out. After the vessel struck and filled, the captain committed an error of judgment in not placing the passengers in the boats. The Court considered that there were sufficient boats and life bouys on the Tararua, but thought that many lives •Would have been saved had life-belts been available for the passengers and crew. The management of the boats after the wreck was also unskilful, and assistance should have been more promptly rendered from the Bluff or Invercargill on news being sent of the vessel being on shoreThe Court expressed astonishment that the officers of the Tararua were ignorant of the deviations of the compasses, but in view of the peculiar discipline on board, was not disposed to say to what degree, if any, such ignorance was attributable to the officer’s neglect. The certificates of

both officers were returned. It was recommended that a light should be placed on Waipapa Point, that vessels should be compelled to carry life-belts for maximum number of passengers and crew, and that exercise in the management of boats at stated intervals should be compulsory. In answer to a question the Court said as the captain had lost his life, (here was no one against whom an order for costs could be made.