WRECK OF THE DEVON.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 100, 1 September 1913, Page 6

WRECK OF THE DEVON.

SALVAGE OPERATIONS

[Pee Press Association.l Wellington, August 31. The steamer Awaroa returned from the Devon wreck on Saturday evening with a large quantity of case oil, i case of machinery and a motor car consigned to Dexter and Cromer, of Auckland. The auxiliary scow Echo left the wharf early this morning, and has been engaged all day in salvage work. The weather is fine, although a fairly strong northerly wind is blowing. The wreck, however, is sheltered from it, and good progress with the recovery of the cargo and fittings should be made.

INQUIRY INTO THE WRECK. Wellington, September 1. The Marine inquiry into the wreck of the Devon was opened to-day before x Court consisting of Dr. McArthur ('president), and Captains Bollons and Black.

Captain Caunce stated that the Devon went ashore about 7.43 p.iu. When he picked up the Pencarrow light, ho continued on the course for the Somes Island light ,when a squall of rain obscured the light. The squall lasted about five minutes, and afterwards ho picked up what he took to he the red light of Somes Island. When ho found himself in the red light he ported to get into the white sector again. Shortly after that, he saw he was too close to the rocks on Pencarrow Heads, and lie went hard to starboard. The- vessel refused to answer her helm, but lie thought the stern would swing round a bit, and he put the engines full speed astern. The vessel struck the rocks heavily ibaft the bridge. He could not sec my rocks ahead, so ho put the engines Till speed ahead, but as he saw- the rocks a minute later he stopped the engines. The lights went out a fee minutes afterwards, and the firemen -ame on deck saying , that the water was coming into the stokehold and mgine-room. The vessel struck about a cable length from lower Pencarrow Head, His speed was about ten knots. The night was rough with squalls and strong wind. He did not think it was necessary when he got into the red light to go out to sea again, but tried ;o pick up the white sector. Ho took the red light to he the red sector, not the shoal light, because the sector was 1 16-mile light and the shoal light was only about a four mile light. Both lights were of the same kind (fixed). The vessel was seriously damaged, and ■be thought practically a total loss. In reply to counsel, witness jsaid his explanation of the disaster was that he took the Falcon shoal light to be the red sector of Somes Island, and took what would have been the correct course in that case, vise., to turn towards Pencarrow. The Falcon fixed light was exactly - on the bend between the red and white sectors of the Somes Island light. If the Falcon light had been an occulting light, it would not have been possible for the wreck to have occurred.

TROUBLE WITH THE WATERSTDERS.

Wellington, September 1

A somewhat serious position- has arisen in connection with the discharge of the Devon’s cargo. A number of wharf laborers refused to go down to the stranded steamer on Saturday unless paid 5s an hour. The shipping companies offered them 2s for work in the daytime and 3s overtime, but as they still refused to start, the permanent stevedores of the New Zealand Shipping Company wore put on to do the work. The steamer Awaroa has brought to town a quantity of salvaged cargo, and some more is on hoard the 'auxiliary scow, Echo, but the casual waterside workers have refused to handle it. Some permanent manual workers of the Harbor Board wore then directed to unload the Awaroa. but they also refused, and it is stated that they have been suspended.