THE KAITOA INQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 50, 4 February 1916, Page 2

THE KAITOA INQUIRY.

RECENT STRANDING. Per Press Association. Wellington February I. An inquiry into the stranding of the Kaitoa near Cape Terawhiti on Sunday night was opened before Mr Kiddle, S.M., and Captains Lambert and Gray. Captain Stevens said he bad obtained a special permit to make the day'light passage with sixty-two passengers. He was on the bridge, all the time after leaving Jackson Head, when the tide was ebbing. He shaped tlie usual course and took no crossbearings to check his position before entering the fok. There was no deviation of the compass. Fog signals were sounded all the time. When he saw a dark object half a mile ahead be ported his helm and stopped one engine and then the other. A minute or two later the vessel touched. He reckoned he was then two and a-half to three miles j'rom Terawhiti. He took no soundings, as he had no appliances to do so, and he did not use the patent log as he did not believe in it in the Straits, where the tide was so strong. The passengers were landed safely in case 'had weather came on, and were subsequently re-embarked "hen the vessel came off quite easily about two hours later. The inquiry is proceeding.