SHIPPING.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 260, 31 March 1875, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OF POVERTY BAY ARRIVALS. MARCH. 29—A. S. P. Co’s Go-a-head, Captain McGillivray from Auckland. DEPARTURES. MARCH. 29—A. S. P. Go’s Go-a-head for Napier. The Go-a-head will be up at her anchorage abofft fidon“fd-3»iy7<>riTier way To" Auckland with a cargo of sheep, and will wait only to land and embark passengers and mails. The Southern Cross will drop in on her way south’ from Auckland to-inorrow. Captain Chrisp arrived on Monday last per steamer Go-a-head, and will shortly enter upon his new duties, as Harbour Master and Pilot. We congratulate Captain Chrisp on his appointment, and the Government could hardly have made a better selection. XV e have to thank Captain McGillivray of the steamer Go-a-head for a prompt delivery of full files of Auckland papers to the 27th inst. ENQUIRY INTO THE WRECK OF THE. PRETTY JANE. (Condensed from the Evening Star, of the 24th.) As enquiry into the wreck of the Pretty Jane was instituted this morning before Thomas Beckham, Esq., and C. T. Tilley, Esq. Mr. Brookfield conducted the inquiry. Mr. Hill watched the case oil the part of the Customs.

Thomas Fernandez deposed that he was master of the Pretty Jane at the time she etruck. She was fire years old, but he was not aware whether or not she was classed. He then described her size, tonnage, and other particulars, also, his certificate of competency, and the chart. She left Poverty Bay on the 4th February in charge of the pilot. He was not then on board. He had not given instructions for her to be taken away by the pilot in his absence. Kennedy had acted as pilot for three or four months. On two occasions the pilot took the vessel in without him. It was understood that the pilot was to take the vessel out that afternoon, but he had given no express orders. He first ascertained that he took her out at four o’clock, it was then high water; he could seethe mouth of the Big River from the wharf at Turanganui, when he remained watching her until she was on the bar, which is a direct line about six miles away. Her anchor had gone through her bottom, he got a horse and went towards her as soon as possible. He waded on board, she was lying in about four feet of water. It was then nine o’clock in the evening. He was acting under orders in going into the Big River. He entered his protest on the 12th February, but called no survey at that time. He acted under the advice of Captain Read, agent for the Company. On the day of the stranding the officers and men were perfectly sober.

To his Worship: It was not by his authority that the vessel got under weigh, but with his knowledge. He intended to go with her, but was late in coming down ; he was left behind. He fixed the time of sailing at high water, which was at four o’clock in 'the afternoon. He could not say why he was late. He was mitch astonished at the vo s 1 going without him. It is not usual for a vessel to proceed over a bar without her captain. The bar was shifting, and it was essential that he should hare been on board. She was seaworthv, but could not speak as to the state of her water compartments. James Carey was next examined, and deposed that he was chief mate of the Pretty Jane, holding a certificate of competency. He received orders from Captain Fernandez at nine o’clock that morning, to be prepared to go at high water to the Big River if possible, if not, to go to Auckland. She was taken from the wharf to the river without the captain. He had previously taken her out without Captain Fernandez, but always with the pilot on board, and without the captain s express instructions. When Kennedy, the pilot, came on board at the wharf, he asked what orders he had, when he replied that he war to take her to the Big River. He asked where the captain was. He always gave up ail authority to the pilot, because it was the custom to do so. Jacob Wickinaun, second officer of the vessel, deposed that he was on board the day of the stranding, and the pilot was in charge. He held a mate’s certificate. The engines were not eased before she ran aground. There being a heavy sea on at the time, she bumped heavily on the bar, and w.-nt ahead on to the beach. They could not tack on account of narrowness of the river. He was at the wheel the whole of the time obeying the Pilot’s orders. Henry William Tizard, engineer, received orders from Mr. Carey to get up the steam, preparatory to swinging out from the wharf. Mr. Kennedy, the pilot, was on board at the time. He steamed at full sjteod according to orders until she strwk, when he reversed the engines. He was below the whole of the time. All the men were sober at the time of the accident.

Mr. William Lodder, Manager of the Auckland Steam Packet Company, and by profession an engineer, stated that the Pretty Jane was valued at £BOO3, and insured for £5OOO. The cargo was valued at £2OOO, but the estimated loss is not known. The vessel was not in the Big River proper, but inside the outer bar, and subject to the action of the waves, with a heavy sea running; he would not have taken her there. The Company had never paid exemption fees to the Government. The first mate was recalled, and in answer to his Worship said he did not go on the bridge, because he considered thatthe pilot represented the master.

Captain Fernandez was recalled and said that he had orders not to go into the Big River if he could not do so with safety. Joseph Kennedy the pilot was next examined.

He was appointed harbor-master of Poverty Bay under Sir James Fergusson, and at the same time was appointed pilot. The limits of the harbor do not extend outside the bar. On the 4th February he took charge of the Pretty Jane in the act of swinging from the wharf. He went on board at three o'clock by order of Captain Fernandez, about half an hour previously. They had been to the races together; he said he wanted him to take the vessel outside the bar, but did not positively give him the charge of the vessel; he said he wanted to go out by the afternoon tide to go to the Big River, but did not tell turn to go, whether he was on board or not. He was talking with the Engineer when Captain Fernandez came on the bridge ; when he told the Captain that it would be dangerous to go over the bar, the vessel would go ahead on the beach. He said, if a sailing vessel can do it, a steamer ought. The vessel was th-n lying al the wharf. He then gave orders to have the steam up at two o’clock. He could not tell why Captain Fernan lez did not. dome onboard. The tide would not allow him Io wait for the Captain, as it was only within half an hour of high water. The first officer suggested that they had better go to save the time. He cleared the bar at 4.55. The distmee from the wharf to the Big River is 4j miles in a straight line. He did not lay to and wait for the Captain, or they would have been behind the tide.

Captain Kennedy then proceeded to describe the particulars of the stranding, all which have already appeared in these columns. The Court deferred judgment until Saturday next, 3rd April.