NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 43, 16 March 1909, Page 2

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

TIIU l''ol!KliST ILUjL, WHIiCK. Tllli Ui'MS' JiVIUIfiXUK. DLY'IDIiD COiUUXIJH. By I'elegrapli,—l'ress ABaociution. Auckland, March 10. Tlie Court of Inquiry into the wre of the Forrest JluJl began this mor «««. John Collins, master of the Forre Hall, stated that at daylight on Febr ary 27th the ship was heading for lan lifteen miles distant, with all sails si lie had instructed the chief officer i keep as close in as possible in order 1 make a favourable purt tack. He r« lieved the chief officer at 8 o'clock, a:i when about four miles oil' land th crew were called to stand-by ta 'bou ship. He kept the vessel on Jier eours till 0.30, when she grazed the botton about a mile and a half from shore an remained fast. About three minute before the-vessel struck, the mate toh the man ut the wheel to put the heln hard up, but witness countermanded tin order and told him to keep straight on lie did not take a sounding, as ho believ ed he was well outside the danger liu? The intended course was through Cool Straits or round the south of New Zealand. The ship took a list to starboard. Witness gave thj crew permission tc leave her, lie gave a small quantity of drink In the men on the beach, and two bottles of rum brought ashoru were ' stolen. A keg of rum was leit aooard. He heard afterwards it was brought ashore.

Mi. Mays (Crown Solicitor) said that 1 s ii mutter of fairl tin' men went out 1 o the ship to rescue tlu« second ollicer ml a seaman named hissmore, and lime buck without l)«*m lml brought the ;eg of rum. Captain Collin*, continuing, said that )oforc» he left the beach complaints were nado that tlu* crew was destroying itores, throwing food over the rocks md destroying chesU oi tea. »>iey mist have been mad or drunk. A com)hiint was made that a man named ftmwuy chased one of the crow about he beach, brandishing a knife. Witness ;aw "Petersen with his head cut open. A'itness was ton ill to interfere, but the nate knew am), should have acted. He ittributed the wreck to an error of judgment. possibly affected by the state of lis health. William Class, chief officer of the Forrest Hal), deposed mat n lew minutes j before the ship struck he advised the •aptain to turn the vessel round. The captain replied that he was the responsible nam al>oard. Witness added that the ship was going ashore, ami called to the helmsman lo "hard up the helm; keep her away!" The, captain said, " Keep her full and bye. T will take all responsibility." The captain then or dered witness oIV the poop. He had seen nothing about the captain's health. There was no justification for anyone saying that he (witness) was under the influence of liquor. lie did not see any riot on Saturday night, but the men were '' jolly" getting stores oil'. Witness had a few words with the .steward and struck him. A slight struggle ensued, in which the cook lifted an axe to him. Auckland. Last XighL Frank Hudson, A.8., who was at the wheel when the. v?s.scl grounded, stated that after the vessel struck first ahe Bailed, on for about two miles l>cfoi\ ehe touched again, and grounded. In ero?w-examination, he stuck to hi? statement, saving that he distinctly fell the vessel touch the first time ;.!t«;ut ai hour before grounding. It was stated that the only i;:iurmft tiou available as to insurance was thai the vessel was partly injured at Home. The Court held tliat the inquiry should not be closed until full particu lans of insurances were available. The inquiry was accordingly adjourn ed till Friday.