THE PENGUIN DISASTER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9377, 22 February 1909, Page 5

THE PENGUIN DISASTER.

SECOND EDITION.'

— ~ MARINE INUQIRY. Press Association. Wellington, February 22. The inquiry into the wreck of the Penguin was resumed to-day. Captain Naylor, in his evidence, stated that before leaving Picfcon at 6.20 p.m. on the 12th, he could not tell what the weather was likely to be outside. The average speed of the Penguin was 12 knots. On coming out of Tory Channel there was very little sea and the weather was overcast, the wind being from the south-east. The currents at tho head of Tory Channel ran rapidly, as a rale from one to three knots. When the beat emerged from Tory Channel witness set the course south-east, a quarter east by east till 8 o’clock. At 8 o’clock ho went south-east by east again and stood on that course till 20 minutes to ten. The ship bv that time bad steamed 23 miles. He reckoned she had done 18 miles.

It was 17% miles from the Heads to Tom’s Rock Witness in his calculation had made allowance for currents. According to his reckoning be would have been just past Tom’s Rock at 20 minutes to ten. At nine it was raining heavily, and tho squalls continued. Between. !) 15 and 9.30 it became very dark. He did nofc alter his coarse till 20 minutes to ten, nor did ho take any soundings. He noticed the tides in Tory Channel were not according to the book. Tho tide was running in on the south and out on the north. Witness had expected slack water. To meet this difficulty he had steered a south-east by east course. This would beep the Beacons in line and so enable Jam to clear Tom’s rock. He considered be was on a good safe course. At 20 minutes to ten he reckoned he had passed Tom’s Rock and was a good three miles off it. At that hour he altered the course east by south and ran her for 20 minutes. This should have put him past Sinclair Head. He- could see practically nothing inshore.Counsel:! put it to ■ you that soundings should have been taken. Witness: To take soundings with the load I should have been courting danger, because I would have had to stop the ship and that would have been dangerous. For the same reason witness said he did not slow down. j Counsel: I put it to yon that after you came out! of Tory Channel and lostlthe Brothers y outdid, not know wlmre you where. Witness : I set a course that would have made me absoluteely safe under normal conditions. Continuing witness said the ship struck at 2 minutes past [ten. At the moment he was putting the ship’s head out to sea. He did so because if he ran on much further he would be at Baring Head. He had never experienced such a “set-in” in the current as he had that night. The boats and gear were in good order, and four would have been ample if no damage had occurred. The last time that boat drill was held was at Pioton on the 18th January.