The Kangaroo Enquiry.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 146, 2 June 1884, Page 2

The Kangaroo Enquiry.

CAPTAIN’S CERTIFICATE SURPENDED. [Per Press Association.] Wellington, May 31. The following is the full judgment of the Court of Enquiry into the loss of the steamer Kangaroo:— The evidence put before us has brought our minds to the conclusion that when the Kangaroo struck she was much nearer the shore than it appears from the evidence of Captain Dyball and the other witnesses who were on board the vessel. We are brought to this conclusion by working out on the chart the course steered from the moment at which she struck, as given by Captain Dyball: and making allowances for speed, we find that she sank further from the land than the point at which she struck, and this conclusion is supported by the evidence of Richard Walsh, the boatswain, who says she is lying a little further out, if anything, than where she struck. Now, as to the position in which she sank, Captain Dyball says she went down in about nine fathoms of water, while the lighthouse - keeper says she lies between Bowler’s and the Shepherdess Reef, with broken water on both sides of her. Again, he says that she is lying on the edge of the broken water—the broken water on the land side being a very little distance from her. The lighthouse-keeper, although not qualified to judge as to distance, is quite competent to describe her position with respect to the broken water as observed from the lighthouse. Taking then her present position as fixed by Captain Dyball in nine fathoms of water, and as fixed by the lighthouse keeper with respect to Bowler’s and the Shepherdess Reefs, we find that she struck on Bowler’s. The evidence put before us on behalf of Captain Dyball, has entirely failed to show the existence of any dangers in the neighborhood of Cape Campbell not shown on the chart. We feel that Captain Dyball must be held responsible for the disaster, in that he took his vessel much nearer to the shore than was prudent or justifiable, in violation of the sailing directions. Subject to Confirmation by His Excellency the Governor, we suspend his certificate for three months, and order him to pay the costs of this enquiry. Costs amounting to £36 19s. were assessed by counsel for the Crown. Mr. Shaw, counsel for Captain Dyball, intends to appeal against the decision.