THE ARAWATA IN COLLISION

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1090, 22 June 1882, Page 2

THE ARAWATA IN COLLISION

STATEMENT OF THE CAPTAIN. The following is Captain Sinclair’s statement regarding the collision of the Arawata with the brig Sea Nymph at Sydney:—“We left the wharf at L4O p.m., the weather being thick «iid heavy with rain squalls; wind E.S.E., .strong breeze ; steamed out slow ahead on the port helm, kept stopping and starting the engines slow ahead, so that the ship might be got round before going across the harbor too far, wishing to keep on tlie starboard side of the fairway. When the ship’s head was half-way between Blue Point and Dawes Point, which I could see through the rain by the lights on the Point, the helm was steadied. We had not gono more than three ships lengths, when we sighted a white painted schooner nearly ahead, close aboard, without any lights burning or any look-out on deck. The first mate called from the forecastle, and the second mate did the same from the passage aft, but could get no answer. After clearing this vessel on the hard a-port helm, the engines stopped, And the helm was put hard a-starboard, going ‘ slow ahead ’ to swing our quarter clear of the schooner. After the schooner bad passed, Another vessel’s hull was sighted close to, and nearly ahead of us. The rain at this time was very heavy and thick, and I could not judge the distance between the vessels, so stopped And went full speed astern, as I could not clear on any helm by keeping on slow ahead ; but the vessels keeping as close together after clearing the first with a little headway the full speed astern would not bring up the ship before striking the brig, which proved to be the Bea Nymph, of Sydney, in ballast, outward bound. We struck the vessel amidships, breaking in some of her planking, which allowed the water to rush in. I did not see the brig. Two -of her men got on board of the steamer, while the remainder of the crew got into their own boats. I asked them if they were all right, and was answered * Yes.’ I slowed down steam and came to an anchor in Farm Cove. We landed the two belonging to the brig, and as I could do nothing more, had the boat hoisted up and started for sea at 2 o’clock on Friday morning, the weather being still thick with strong K.S.E. wind. I attribute the accident Io the brig being without lights.”