THE TARARUA ENQUIRY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2559, 3 June 1881, Page 2

THE TARARUA ENQUIRY.

- >-*. . THE COURT’S DECISION. [By Telegraph.] Dunedin, June 3. Judgment in the Tarr.rua inquiry was given to-day. The Court found that the wreck and loss of life was primarily caused through the failure of Captain Garrard to ascertain at 4 a.m. on April 29, the correct position of the ship,when the simple use of the lead would have told the distance off the shore. The course in which the Tararua was steered from 1.30 to 4 o’clock, assumingthe compasses were magnetically correct, was an insecure course, and therefore improper, especially as a heavy swell and ebb tide tended to set the vessel in shore. That at 4.25 when the second officer first called the captain’s attention to the breakers the vessel was off Slope Point, and in dangerous proximity thereto, but the captain believed her to be off Waipapa Point. That although it is to be regretted that the second officer did not exercise the power which he had to stop the engines if he found the ship in imminent danger, when for the second time he fancied he board the breakers, we cannot come to a conclusion that his not doing so was a negligent omission. It was reasonable for him to suppose that the captain had ascertained the position of the ship at four, and be might naturally be impressed with the idea that the hearing of breakers could only be fancy, and he took the action he did to report to the captain in terras of his orders. At the same time, we are of opinion that the leaving of the bridge at any time by an officer in charge of the deck when the ship is under way is fraught with extreme danger, and that Captain Garrard’s orders to call him personally were imprudent. That the immediate cause of the wreck and loss of life was the negligent failure of able seaman Weston to keep a proper look out. That after the vessel struck and filled, the captain committed an error in judgment in not placing the passengers in the boats. The Court was of opinion that there were sufficient boats and life belts in the Tararua, but thought many lives would have been saved had the life belts been available for passengers and crew. In reference to the management of boats, they thought the loss of the first officer’s might have been avoided by a more skillful management; but although censuring chief officer Lindsay for his lack of skill, they were not disposed to say that the casualty resulted therefrom or was caused by his wrongful act or default. They thought assistance should have been rendered from the or Invercargill when intimation was received of the accident for no passenger vessel on a rock could be considered in other than a dangerous position. Astonishment was expressed that the officers of the Tararua were ignorant of the ' deviations of the compass, but in view of the peculiar discipline on board, the Court was not disposed to say to what degree, if any, this ignorance was attributable to their own neglect. The certificates of both officers were then returned. In conclusion the Court made the following recommendations : 1. That a light is urgently required in the neighbourhood of Waipapa point. 2. That all passenger vessels trading in New Zealand waters be compelled to carry life-belts for the maximum number of passengers and crew. 3. That a regulation be made compelling exercise in the management of boats at stated intervals.

In answer to a question the Court sajd that as the captain had lost his life, there was no one against whom an order for costs could be made.