SHIPPING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 92, 21 April 1915, Page 2

SHIPPING.

PORT OF NEW PLYMOUTH WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1915 PHASES OF THE MOON APRIL, 1915. 23—First quarter, 3.16 a.m. 29 —Full moon, 1.55 a.m. THE TIDES. High water to-day at 1.18 a.m. and 1,-12 p.ni., to-morrow at 2.6 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. THE SUN. The sun rises to-day at 6.10 a.m. and sets at 5.20 p.m.; to-morrow, rises at 6.-11 a.m. and sets at 5.19 p.m. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Poherua, from South to-day. Kowhai, from Greymouth, to-day. Xgahere, from Greymouth, to-day Mapourika, from South,. Thursday. Rarawa, from North, Friday. Kurow, from Newcastle, this week.

The Flora leaves Lyttelton on Thursday for New Plymouth, via Oamjmi, Tiiiiaru, and Wellington. The Storm arrived from Westport at 1 p.m. yesterday, with 418 tons of Westport and Stockton coal. The Ngahere left Greymonth yesterday morning with 500 tons of coal, and is due here this morning.

The Rarawa arrived from Onehunga yesterday morning, bringing a general cargo of 102 tons, included in which were 15 tons of cement and 7 tons of sugar.

The Poherua is due at New Plymouth to-day, and on arrival will discharge. cargo from Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, Lyttelton and Wellington. From here the Poherua will proceed to Westport and Greymonth. Captain Bilton, who was in command of the Poherua when the steamer was last in New Plymouth, has transferred to the Pukaki. The Corinna, which left New Plymouth with 45.00 crates of cheese for transhipment to the lonic, also took 1000 crates of cheese from Onehunga for this vessel. The Kini is taking 5000 crates of cheese from the Bluff for transhipment to the lonic. The New Zealand Shipping Co. has been advised by cable that the Turakina arrived at Hobart at 11 o’clock on Saturday night from London. The cable message added that the liner was to sail at 6 p.m. on Monday for Wellington, where she is due next Saturday morning.

LOSS OF THE RAKIURA. Wellington, April 20. In the evidence given at the inquiry into the wreck of the Rakiura, James Boyd, master of the vessel, stated that the steamer struck about 5 a.in. on April 11. Ten minutes before the log showed 48 miles. It ought to have showed 08 miles. He reckoned he was ten miles off Stephen Island. The vessel had been lying before starting the voyage in one position on the shore for seven or eight days, and this was likely to have affected the compasses, which could not be tested before leaving Puponga. There was no defect in the steering gear.

James Boyd, master of the vessel, stated that the weather was thick. His last check of his position was by Farewell light at 4.40 a.m. on April 14th. He considered he was ten miles off Stephen Island. Both wind and tide were sotting against him. As he could not see clearly, he went dead slow. Then at l 00, as he thought there was something ahead, he ordered the engines to he stopped and put his helm aport. The vessel struck two oi' three minutes later on a rock. The Court found the wreck was duo to the master’s error of judgment in not allowing sufficient leeway, but did not consider it necessary to deal with his certificate. He would, however, be ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry.