Evidence at Manuka Inquiry

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 865, 8 January 1930, Page 11

Evidence at Manuka Inquiry

CAPTAIN’S COOLNESS IN CRISIS Press Association DUNEDIN, Today. THE inquiry concerning the loss of the Manuka was resumed this morning when the chief engineer gave evidence concerning engine speeds and the recovery of the ship’s papers after the ship’s boat swamped. Evidence was also given by the look-out man and the seamen who acted as helmsmen.

Continuing his evidence yesterday afternoon, Captain Ross Clark said, in reply to a question by Mr. Haggitt, representing the Union Steam Ship Company, that the vessel was absolutely sound and seaworthy. To Mr. J. S. Stringer: The vessel was in good trim for steering. To Mr. A. C. Hanlon: He had been on the coast as master for eight years and another six to eight years as officer. During practically the whole time as master he had been trading between Dunedin and Bluff. He had never discovered any set other than a northerly one on the coast after leaving Chasland’s Mistake. On the night of the wreck, he had no drink. As far as the officers were concerned, there could be no suggestion that they had any drink. The ship had two compasses, one on the bridge and one at the wheel. All care was taken at convenient opportunities to discover errors in these instruments. From his experience he would say he was justified in relying on a standard compass. When the inquiry resumed this morning the chief engineer, Edward Arthur Griffiths, said he had been two and a-haif years on the Manuka. He was previously on her in 1905. On the night of the wreck, in accordance with standing orders, revolutions were counted every hour. The average between nine and ten p.m. was BSJ a minute, and at 10 o’clock 89. That would give an average speed of 12| knots to eight o’clock and 13 knots afterward. At 10.53 an order of “full speed astern” was received. He was in charge of the boat in which the ship’s papers were put. The boat was swamped after leaving the ship and the passengers baled, giving

; papers a secondary consideration as against the fear of the boat sinking. When the people were taken off that boat, he felt round and recovered the bridge book floating in the water in the boat. ALL PRECAUTIONS TAKEN To Mr. Hanlon: When the vessel struck, all emergency precautions were taken down below and all watertight doors were closed. ,The chief engineer said the captain took every step, even at great risk of his own life, to get passengers and crew safely away. Even after the last boat left he was on the deck, along which the waves were washing. The captain made a final review after the last boat left to see that no one was still aboard. He then ordered witness to stand clear. Robert Moir, able seaman, said he was on duty as look-out man at the time of the wreck. A misty rain was coming down and he could see about three miles in every direction. He saw no land or lights. Visibility be : camp bad from 9 o’clock onward, and then he could see about a mile, perhaps two miles. He was right forward in the eyes of the ship when he saw a black object on the port side. He immediately shouted “Land ahead” and struck two bells. He stood on the forecastle. He saw the vessel swinging to starboard just as she struck. In reply to the chairman, he said the reason why he did not see land sooner may have been because the moon, shining through the clouds, may have made visibility seem greater than it really was. Witness read the log while assisting to launch the boat. The reading was 59. Charles Barwell, helmsman, stated that he was at the wheel when the vessel struck. From the wheelhouse he could see nothing. BANKS OF FOG Caselius MacPherson, able-bodied seaman, said that he was at the wheel till ten o’clock, and about the deck after that. He saw banks of fog landward, but could not tell whether it was over land or sea. He did not see land until the ship struck.