The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16. THE KAIPARA ENQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 316, 16 February 1910, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16. THE KAIPARA ENQUIRY.

The findings of the Nautical Court of Enquiry in connection with the stranding of the Kaipara in Rangitoto Channel are, in the light of the evidence tendered, just about what it was generally anticipated they would be. The verdict is clear and admits of no misunderstanding. Captain Cornwall and his officers are exempted from all blame. Indeed, they are specially complimented ''on the manner in which they extricated their ship from the trap into which it had fallen." The trap was, in the opinion of the Court, set by the negligence of the Auckland Harbor Board. This was clearly shown in the evidence of one witness, Captain Forsdick, who stated that in July, 1904, the Waimate, of which he wae then in charge, touched bottom at what was evidently the same point as where the. Kaipara came to grief, though he had taken a course after a special consultation with -.he harbormaster the previous day. His interviews with that official wer e rot! at all satisfactory. Indeed, on the next occasion he visited the place, "I told him that I would not leave or. enter Auckland harbor again at anywhere' near that draught"—a draught, it may be feinted out, which was less than that of the Kaipara at the time of her grounding. The harbormaster said that Captain Forsdick could not get less than 32ft on the course indicated along Rangitoto Channel, yet we have the Waimate, drawing not more than 25ft 6in, touching bottom in the channel. Not only this, but there was elicited, right at the last moment, the fact that the San Francisco mail steamer, the Sierra, had touched bottom at or near the same spot. On that occasion the Marine Department was notified and a general survey.of the harbor was urged, by the harbormaster, but nothing was done. All these accidents, as well as the reported accident to a French warship, were not sufficient to induce the Auckland Harbor Board to take steps to clear the harbor of the obstruction or issue a general warning to the nautical world. The Admiralty chart show*d 5y 8 fathoms of water at the place where the accident took place. Careful surveys made since the Kaipara mishap, however, have proved that the depth is only 25ft at low spring tides. The Court finds "that the evidence lias disclosed, and it is admitted by the harbormaster, that the western luminous buo v is not in the position shown on the Admiralty chart, but is at least 200 ft <,;• 30Dft more to the north-west." The Court also finds that the master of the iKaipara was not aware, and' had no reason to suspect, that the informatijn on the chart was erroneous and that it was not until the Kaipara struck the ■same rocky patch which two, and perhaps three, vessels had previously struck that "a proper sea'rch was made and the true position and extent of the patch ascertained by the master of ;;he Kaipara and those who assisted him." This is a damning indictment of the Harbor Board, which has evidently acted on the "hushing up" policy, out of regard to the interests of the port, which was (described early in the enquiry as "one of the safest harbors in the world." The policy has been a wrong and dangerous one, and might have resulted even more disastrously than it did in the case of the Kaipara. As it is, the owners of the vessel should have a fair claim against the Harßor Board for the Joss the accident has entailed. Tndeed, the Board would be let off lightly if they were obliged to shoulder the liability. ' What is needed now is a thorough examination and survey of the whole fairway and tin* work should be put in "hand at the earliest possible moment. This accident and the Dusky Sound catastrophe should be sufficient to induce the Government to bring the charts of the coast and the harbors right up to date. The question of cost should not be allowed to stand in the way. Needless to say, the friends of Captain Cornwall, who lielongs to this district, will bo extremely i gratified with the result of the enquiry. I which has shown him to bo a careful, j resoureefur and successful mariner.