The Takapuna Inquiry.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 115, 25 April 1884, Page 2

The Takapuna Inquiry.

[Per Association Telegrams.] Dunedin, April 24. The Takapuna inquiry commenced to-day before Mr. Carew, with Captains Thomson and Scott as Nautical Assessors. Captain Jones, in the course of evidence said that on 22nd November they left the Manakau for New Plymouth, and arrived at the latter place at midnight. Previous to this trip the vessel had never touched. She left New Plymouth an hour after arrival, and witness was on the bridge when she left, and remained there half-an-hour. It was a clear moonlight night, and they were going 13 knots. The second mate was in charge when witness left the bridge. They were then three miles from land. Witness gave verbal orders as to the course, and told the second mate to keep S.E. | S., and in no case to go nearer land than two miles. A quarter of an hour after going below he was aroused by the rattle of the wheel going over. He went on deck and found the wheel hard over, and the ship about a mile and a-half from land. They were then a little to the southward of Egmont lighti Kept the ship out, and she resumed her former course. Shortly afterwards the second mate told him he thought she had touched, but witness did not feel anything. He had no conversation with anyone else on board about the vessel striking. No special order about the pumps was given on this occasion. She did not make more than her usual quantity of water, nor was her speed slackened. The damage found when she was docked, he believed to have been sustained at Manukau, as she grounded in a bed of scoria rock on the 30lh January, in trying to leave the wharf. He did not report the affair, because he did not think any damage had been done. The inquiry has been adjourned until Tuesday. Only three witnesses were examined.