MARINE INQUIRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9394, 15 March 1909, Page 5

MARINE INQUIRY.

LOSS OF ,THE FORREST HALL. Per Press Association. Auckland, March 15. The Court of Inquiry into |the wreck of the Forrest Hall beganjthis morning. John Collins, master of the Forrest Hall, stated that at “daylight on February 27th the ship was heading for land fifteen miles distant, All the sails were set and Le had instructed the Chief Officer to x keep as close in as possible to make a favourable port tack. He relieved the Chief Officer at 8 o’clock about four miles off land. The crew were called to stand by to bout ship. He kept the vessel on her course till 9.80 when she grazed the bottom, about a mile and a half from shore. He remained at his post. About three minutes before the vessel struck the mate told the man at the wheel to put the helm hard np, hut witness countermanded the order and told him to keep straight on. He did not take soundings as he believed he was well outside the line of danger. His intended course was through Cooks Straits or round the south of New Zealand. The ship took a list to starboard. Witness gave the crew permission to leave her. He gave a small quantity of drink to men on the beach and two bottled of rum brought ashore were stolen. A keg of rum was left aboard. He heard afterwards it was brought ashore. Mr Mays, Crown Solicitor, said that as a matter of fact the men went out to the ship to/rescue the second officer and a seaman. Passmore came back without them, but brought the keg of rum. Captain Collins continuing, said before he left the beach complaints were made that the crew were destroying stores, throwing food over the rooks, and breaking chests of tea. They most have been mad or drunk. A complaint was made that a man named Ramsay chased one of the crew about the beach, brandishing a knife. Witness said Petersen was the man with his head out open. Witness was too ill to interfere, bat the mate knew and should have acted. He attributed the wreck to an error of judgment' possibly affected by the state of his health.