The Grounding of the Steamship Weihora. Decision of the Board of Inquiry.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 145, 13 March 1886, Page 6

The Grounding of the Steamship Weihora. Decision of the Board of Inquiry.

On February 27th the Steam Navigation Board of Victoria continued the inquiry into the cause which led to the striking of the Union Steamship Company's vessel Waihora off the north-east coast of Tasmania on the 17th February. The Board found — 1. That the Waihora, drawing IS foot aft and 16 feet forward, left Hobart on the voyage to Melbourne, proceeding on the usual course with fine, clear weather and smooth sea, 2, That the bearings of the prominent headlands are sail to have been takon by the various officers on watch, and that by a four- point bearing the Waihora passed St. Helen's Point at a diatanco of five miles on a N.N.W. course. 3. That the master, Thomas McGee, was on the bridge as the vossel approached Eddystone Point, and at half-past 1 p.m. on tho I7lh of February, ho observed the George Hocks bearing N.W. seven and a half miles, and the Eddystone Rock W.N.W., seven and a-balf miles distant. 4. That at half past 1 p.ra , the master took another bearing of the Eddystone Rock, which then boro W.S.W. two and a-half miles, and which bearing would place the vessel from two and a-half to three miles off tho Eddystone Rock ; that within two minute 3 from then the Waihora struck a rock, alleged to be about 14 feet under water, and immediately after the Btriking the master took the following bearings to fix the position of the rock : - Eddystone Rock, S.W. half W.; George's Rock, N.W. by W. magnetic. Captain McGee declares that the above bearings were accurately taken at the moment of the casualty. Such bearings fix the position on the chart of the survey made by Captain Stanley, R.N., as a distance of one mile eight and a-half cables from Norgat Rock on a JN". iN.E. bearing, with soundings giving between 23 fathoms sand and shell, and 26 fathoms sand, and, therefore, in a presumably safe position. The Board find that the master and officers of the Waihora wore on deck attending t:o their duties, and in the face of the evidence adduced, they do not charge either the master or officers with default. The Board, however, would direct attention to the fact that the position of the rock on which tho Waihora is alleged to have struck is directly in the fairway of navigation on the east coast of Tasmania, and it is imperative to the safety of both life and property that action should be taken to search for the said hidden and vnknown danger as early aB possible, and thus prevent, or at least reduce to a minimum, the risk to navigation. The Board consider it their duty to urge these views on the Government, m order that the necessary steps may be taken to have the locality examined without delay by H.M, surveying ship Myrmidon.