THE TAVIUNI INQUIRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9138, 6 May 1908, Page 8

THE TAVIUNI INQUIRY.

THE INQUIRY. Press Association. Westport:, May 5. \fc the nautical inquiry evidence' ■was given by Captain Powell {master of the dredge Hopper), Matthews (master of the dredge Euby Seddon), Fumeaux (harbourmaster), and E. A. Young (the Board’s engineer) that no complaints were made about the insufficiency ox lights at the river entrance. _ The Harbourmaster had traded to Westport for thirty years, and m his opinion the port was sufficiently lighted. , , „ ... The Engineer stated that j.o.t eight years there had been no change m the soundings outside the entrance to the river. , Francis Fletcher, master or the Karameaitrader s.s. Nguuguru, oesrcibed tli - conditions - Jon the night of the stranding as squally at sea with a haze along the water at the unhead and fairly thick. He came along to tho port just after the Taviuni, being seven miles away, when ho observed the rockets of distress. He went over to the Taviuni, using the lead until he got into three fathoms. He would not have used the lead if he had not iseen the Taviuni. It" was au exceptional night. Between the squalls, the lights could he seen some considerable distance off. He did not think a stranger should have come in close to the coast on such a night, hut now, knowing the port, he would have more confidence. Frederick Radford, second officer of the Taviuni, took his bearing on the red light after the ship struck. It showed on the port 'quarter. When he saw the light it would not be in the direction the lookout man looks. - „ Captain Sawyers, master or the s.s. Moa, went oat the night the Taviuni stranded. He said there was a haze on shore as if caused by smoke from the briquette works, obscuring the lights at the time. The inquiry resumes to-morrow. Westport, May 6. The Taviuni inquiry is still proceeding and should conclude to-dav. No work is being done at the _ steamer at present.