Wreck of the Fanny Kelly. Nautical Inquiry. (Before H. G. Seth Smith, R.M ; Captain Frater, Nautical Assessor.)

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 142, 20 February 1886, Page 4

Wreck of the Fanny Kelly. Nautical Inquiry. (Before H. G. Seth Smith, R.M ; Captain Frater, Nautical Assessor.)

An official inquiry into the wreck of the ketch Fanny Kelly, which took place at Kauri Bluff, noar Whangaroi, in Feb. last, was hold at the R.M. Court on Fob. 15 Mr T. Hill (Collector of Customs) and Mr 11. Williamson (Crown Prosecutor) were present.—Mr Williamson stated, in his opening, that the inquiry was one of a peculiarly distressing character, inasmuch as the wreck of the koteh was attended with the loss of life, a mother and threo children, who were passongors by the vessel from Auckland to Mongonui, having perished. It appeared that the vessel had been wrecked upon a 100 shore, and in the darknoss of tho night. The depositions aTready taken before tho Collector of Customs did not show that there was any want, nothing reflecting upon oithor tho skill or competence of the persons in charge; nevertheless, the wrecic had boen a total one ; it had taken place on a lee shore, and had been attended with loss of life, under which circumstances it was considered necessary to have a formal inquiry before a tribunal competont to deal with tho matter Mr Williamson proccsdod to describe the passage of the Fanny Kelly prior to her wreck, particulars of which havo alroady been given, and concluded by saying that the captain appearod to havo lost his bearingp, not being aware how close ho was to the phore. The vessel struck on a reef some four miles to tho norchward of Whangaroi Heads, and was totally lost. The captain and mate had been oxamined beforo tho Collector of Custcmp, but that examination was of course only preliminary, and therefore incomplete. It would be for tho Court to decido whothor tho captain, being in the position ho was on a lee fchore, had takon every proper precaution to save tho vessol. The latter was prepaicd and equipped by tho ownors, the Auckland Timber Company, in a propor manner, and horo was nothing whatovoo to show that thoio had been any carelessness on the part of those on board. One of the witnesses (Whale) was not ablo to be present. Ho was detained at the Hospital, owing to injuries sustained by tho wreck, Evidonco was then given, for the most part similar to tho statements of tho captain and mate previously published. — (Jeorgo Charles Williams, master of the ketch Fanny Kelly, deposed that ho hold a certificate of service, No. 2,054. Ho eailed at S a.m. on Monday morning, February Ist, bound for Mongonui. Had on board about 1,000 feet of timber and a ton of lime. Had balla&t besides, so that the vessel was in good sailing trim. Had four passengers onboard, Mrs Turnbulland three daughters, aged respectively about 13, 3, and 2^- years He had a small boat, which was easily available. About 5 o'clock, he experienced lough weather off Whangarei Heads, when the wind hauled to the N.N.E. At that timo, he was heading in for Ngunguru. Afterwards he hove round and stood to sea about an hour and a half. As the wind still increased, he hove round, and stood to the " norrard," By that time it was pretty daik. The vessol was travelling about three knots an hour. A few minutes before 11 p ra., witnes3 shortened sail, and bore away for Whangarei. At that time it was ebb ticte. Did not consult his chart, neither did he sound. All he knew about his position was guesswork, from the distance he had come. His course had boen S.E. by S. since he hove round for Whangarei. He followed thafc course for two hours and three-quarters. tie calculated that the vossel had been going six knot 3 an hour. When he thought that he had passed Whangarei Heads, witness altered the course to South. Continued that course for about ten minutes, when he again altered tho course to the S.W., in the hope oi making tho high land and squaring up for Whangarei. Afterwards he hauled up W. by N. , but it was very dark and thick. Saw the high lands, but did not 8O"nd. This was about) 20 minutes past 2 o'clock Witness was steering all the time after bearing away. Did not hoist tho peak until he saw the breakers on the lee. Then he tried to stay the vessol, but she missed stays. There was a heavy sea running, so that anchors were of no use. Witness then lowered the peak and tried to wear, but the veseol struck on the port bow. The passengers were down below, They were all dressed. The vessel struck very heavily, and the first sea carried tho foremast away about half way up. The passengers remained below until the water began to come in. He and hi 3 men did all they could to save the passengers, but they wore all swept into the sea. He and his mon succeeded in getting on to tho rock, and eventually made a raft and dritted into the mainland. The lighthouse at Mokohinau could be seen from where the ketch struck, but the atmosphere was too thick for it to bo seen the ni^tofc thoy weie wrocked. Tho men wore all on deck when the vessel struck; thoy wore all on tho look out. Witness had been trading up and down that coast for the last fourteen years. He could not account for the mishap, or how ho had made the mistake. The entranco to Whangarei Heads was very dangerousin dirty weather, owing to the many sandbanks. The Thistle was lost in that neighbourhood. — Albert Austin deposed he was leading hand on the Fanny Kelly when she was wrecked. The vessel was well equipped, and the compasses all right. OnTuesday he steered the vessel, from 8 until 11.30 o'clock, at which time ho was relioved by the captain. At that tirao the vessel was about seven miles from Tutukaiho. Never steered tho vessel afterwards. Was stationed forward with tho other man keoping a lookout. Tho night was very foggy, and a slight rain was falling. Saw the land looming about three miles ahead and told the Captain it was Whangarei Heads. Thinking they were to windward of the Heade, tho vossol was hauled up. For about half-an-hour they sailed towards the land, then ho saw the breakers to leeward. Witness let go the jib halyard and slacked the sheet, but the ketch missed stays. She had done so often before when any sea was on. Tho vossel struck soon after. The Captain tried to wear off, but before sho got round she was on the rocks. They tried their beat to save the paseengers. but without avail. This concluded the evidence. The Bench then retired for a short time, and upon returning, the Resident Magistrato said that they had been considering the evidence, and had come to the conclusion that the calamity was caused by the master overestimating the speed the vessel had been going, and consequently had not travelled as far as he had anticipated. They found that the five or six knots an hour, as estimated by tho mate, would have just cloared Whangarei Heads, and only just, therefore they considered that even admitting the master's calculations to be correct, which they were not justified in doing in the face of the evidence of himself and his mate, want of care had beon exhibited by him 'in not allowing a margin for the possibility of error in supposing that he was clear of the Heads. Still, as there was no evidence adduced to

show thai negligence had 'caused loss of life they must presume thab the Collector of Customs was satisfied on that point, and might asaume that the master had done everything in hia power to save the lives of tho passengers. They would not deal with his certificate • in any way, but merely say that it was a 9ad thing that it had happened on his part. Mr Williamson asked whether the Court proposed to mako any order as to costs. The magistrate replied that it was not the intention of the Court to do so. The Court then rose.