ENQUIRY UNDER THE “SHIPPING & SEAMEN’S ACT, 1877.”

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1068, 2 May 1882, Page 2

ENQUIRY UNDER THE “SHIPPING & SEAMEN’S ACT, 1877.”

By the courtesy of Mr D. Johnstone, Collector of Customs, we are enabled to lay before our readers the evidence taken in the Te Anau enquiry Michael Carey deposed—l am master of the steamship Te Anau, of Dunedin, registered tonnage 1028. I hold a master’s certificate of competency, No. 41, of New Zealand. I steamed from the usual anchorage in Poverty Bay, on the 20th of March last, and proceeded about one mile and a half, S.S.-East, then South-East. It was low water at the time and perfectly smooth. The ship touched on a hard substance. It was 12.10 p.m. The ship listed to starboard at, au angle of 15 degrees. Went back to

port and then righted. I immediately stopped the engines, and put the ship to port after striking. The water appeared to be muddy’in the wake of the ship. I took compass bearings off Tuomoto point, which bore East S.E. Also took natural bearing North-East by North. 1 did not take soundings. Where the ship struck would be about two miles from shore. 1 have never noticed anything to indicate the presence of a rock at this place. I have been trading to and from Poverty Bay during the last 13 years. The ship was drawing 14 feet 2 inches aft, and 13 feet 6 inches forward. There was no damage done to the ship. A diver examined the bottom in Port Chalmers. I was in and out of the Bay during the time the Lochnagar was lying here last December. The rock the ship struck must have been at least half-a-mile outside where the Lochnagar was lying. I will point out the bearings on my return to Gisborne. I have always steered the same course after leaving the anchorage. The ship was going full speed, say at the rate of 11 knots.

John Bennett, sworn — I am a master mariner, residing at Gisborne. I hold a master's certificate N.Z. home trade. I was a passenger by the Te Anau from Gisborne to Auckland, on the 20th of March last. I have been trading to and from Poverty Bay during the last ten years. When the steamer left the bay I noticed a target moored on the port bow outside the usual anchorage. I was looking over the port gangway towards the shore. The ship was steering a straight course out of the Bay, leaving the Island on the port side and giving it a wide berth. Near where the Lochnagar was anchored last December, I felt the ship’s port bilge slide aloug something which appeared a soft rock. 1 was not aware that a rock existed in this part of the Bay. It would be nearly ainile off shore where the vessel struck. I believe this to be the same rock that the llawea struck some time since. I have never noticed any broken water where the ship touched. The evidence was ordered to be forwarded to the Marine Department at Wellington.