A NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 109, 16 January 1912, Page 8

A NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

JANE DOUGLAS WRECK.

IS STEPHEN ISLAND PASSAGE

DANGEROUS?

By Telegraph-—Press Association. Nelson, January 13,

A nautical inquiry 1 into the wreck of the steamer Jane Douglas between Stephen and D'UrviWe Islands on Wednesday morning was opened to-day before Mr. J. S. Evans, S.M., and Captains McNab and Grey, assessors. Captain Watson, of the Pateena, said that the Stephen Island passage was deemed dangerous, and was prohibited by the Union Steamship Company and the Westport Coal Company, but the Blackball Company's boats used it. The passage was not dangerous for a boat like the Jane Douglas, nor was it necessary for the master to take soundings at night, but if the land was obscured he should go outside the island. It was quite prudent for Captain Vendore to take the passage on Tuesday night. Charles Yendore, master of the Jane Douglas, said that all his experience had been on the Wellington-West Coast run. He had taken the Wairau through the Stephen Island passage, where the only tide rip was for a few minutes, while outside the island it would continue for a couple of hours. The Jane Douglas was a good steering vessel and well found. She was not insured. On Tuesday night: the sky was 'overcast, but the moon was up. Seven miles from Stephen Island he j changed the course. It was then blowing hard from,JJie ( south-east, and there was! a considerable tsea. Tower Rock, on which he struck, was half a mile out from the mainland. He could make out the mainland easily, and went by that. He did not see the rock before the vessel struck, owing to the sea breaking over it. He was steaming 8% knots. The engineer informed him that the shaft was broken and the propeller gone. The weather boat was got ready, the vessel being starboard on to the rock. The lifeboat on the lee side was also got ready in a minute to cast off. As the vessel sank witness was on the bridge, and went down with the ship, being picked up by the boat. The only way he could account for the mishap was that, being deceived by the rip, he misjudged the distance from the mainland. He reckoned he _ was the usual distance from the mainland, and by observation and compass was all right. He did not consider the passage dangerous, and never had anyone to stand by when going through. The inquiry was adjourned till Monday. DECISION RESERVED. Nelson, Last Night. The enquiry into the wreck of the Jane Douglas was continued to-day. Captain Hay, master of the steamer Kikau, gave evidence. He said he was acquainted with the passage between Stephens and d'Urville Islands, and sometimes took it. He would have done so without hesitation on Tuesday night if he had missed the tide at (the" French Pass. He agreed with Captain Vendores that the course was a safe one, and could only account for the casualty by the tide setting the vessel out. Captain Vendore continued his evidence. He did not put on a look-out man, as he kept a look-out himself. The fireman in charge of the engineroom at the time of the accident was quite capable ,of working the engines. Archibald Ingram, mate of the vessel, bore out the captain's description of the , conditions prevailing on the right of the accident.

Thompson, steersman, said he steered to the course set by the Captain, which should have carried the vessel well within the Tower Rock.

The engineer, Brown, said he was asleep at the time, but within a minute after the vessel struck he was in the engineroom, reversed ,the engines on instructions from the bridge, and when the propeller shaft broke he stopped them and blew off steam.

Other members of the crew gave evidence, and the court reserved its decision until to-morrow.