WRECK OF THE TASMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1921, Page 5

WRECK OF THE TASMAN.

THE INQUIRY CONTINUED. CHIEF OFFICER’S EVIDENCE.* By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The inquiry into the wreck of the T&sman was continued to-day, 'William John McManus said that on the night of the disaster he was first mate of the, steamer; he had been m this position about six months. He corroborated Captain Grigg’s statement of the circumstances prior to the disaster, giving details of the weather and the course. Assuming that the vessel was two to two and a half miles, oil Matata when the position was noted, he could not account for her striking the south-west end of the Rurima rocks. He had never experienced any strong set of tide in that vicinity. During the trip he had neither checked the steering compass with the standard one, nor liad he seen anybody else check it. Following the course that had been set, he. expected the vessel to be two miles from Matata, apd it looked to be so. The Tasman was a bad steering vessel, and it was difficult for one mail and the officer of thp watch to check the steering with the standard compass. The rules of the company required the compass to be checked with frequency. He had no explanation to offer to account for the vessel getting off its course. Witness was not thoroughly satisfied that she struck the south-west end of Rurima reef; if she had they would have seen the rock, as it was nearly low water. He thought the rock on which the Tasman struck was some distance to the south of this point of Rurima. After further evidence the inquiry was adjourned. Auckland, June 7. Evidence at thp Tasman inquiry was directed to the fact that the steamer was considerably out of her course, the captain being of opinion that there was some unusual influence affecting the compass. Mr. Meredith, counsel for the captain, suggested that the influence might have been the Aurora Australis, which Mr. Mays ridiculed, but Mr. Meredith said he knew two instances where vessels found themselves in trouble during a display of the southern lights.