NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1921, Page 7

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

THE TURANGA WRECK. DUE TO HEAVY SEAS. . j The loss of an auxiliary oil launch, the Turanga, by wreck on the Mokau bar at the end of April last, was the subject of a nautical enquiry held at New Plymouth yesterday. It will be recalled that the Turanga came to grief in the early hours of the morning Of April 29, being rolled over by a big sea, and the master. Captain Stearne, was drowned. His Worship, Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, presided at the enquiry and the assessors were; Captain P. P. Crawford, of New Plymouth, Captain J. O. Berg, of Waitttta, and Mr. A. K. Morrison, of New Plymouth. The enquiry was conducted by the Collector of Customs (Mr, R. D. Eyre). Mr. H. R. Billing appeared on behalf of the owners, the Mokau* Awakino Shipping Company, and also for the engineer (D. Scott). Percy V. Stainton, part owner of the Turanga, said the vessel was purchased by him at Auckland. She was 28 tons gross and was built in 1910. The vessel was insured for £4OO, but he approximated the value of the vessel at the time of the mishap at £3OOO. They had been running nearly twelve months in the trade but had never had any previous trouble. Witness first got advice of the mishap on the morning of the 29th through McNeill, who was a part-owner, and immediately left for the scene, where he found that the vessel had become a mass of wreckage strewn from Awakino to the Mokau. The weather on the night preceding the wreck was very good. To Mr. Billing: He was astounded on arrival at the Mokau to note the fierceness of the seas, as on the journey along the coast it was Very calm. During the vessel’s running the owners always felt it incumbent on them to carry out any suggestions made by the men as regards any improvements for the comfort and safety of the vessel. The engine had been overhauled twice. At the time of the wreck the Turange had a crew of four—Captain Stearne, David Scott (engineer), L. Smith, A. 8., and Roy Goddard. The usual certificate for the annual overhaul of the boat had been issued in Auckland, before the Turanga came to New Plymouth. The cargo on board was 19 tons of general merchandise. “TREACHEROUS BAR.” The Government Surveyor of Ships (H. G. L. Noy) gave particulars of alterations made to the Turanga, at the suggestion of the owners in order to facilitate the carrying of cargo. Included in these was the shifting of the engine. She had previously beeh a passenger vessel. The alterations were in the interest of the vessel, as it made her a better ship. To Mr. Billing: If anything the Turanga was made more seaworthy as the result of the alterations. Einnim A. Dugdale, marine oil engineer of Waitara, said that last year he carried out the alterations for the shifting of the engine and other work on the Turanga. The vessel was in very good trim for this trade and was one of the best bar boats that had been on the coast of her size. From his experience he had found the Mokau bar very treacherous, this being caused by the fact that there were two bars at the river entrance, causing the seas to mount up to a big height on the outer one. He had had personal experience of encountering heavy seas there in calm weather. The vessel was well equipped with masts, sails and life-saving appliances and was well looked after by the late Captain Stearne. To Mr. Billing: The owners did their best to carry out any suggestions for improvements, and Mr. Stainton ha'd proved very willing to accede to the wishes of the crew. It was not necessary for an engineer to stay in the en-gine-room if the engine was in good order. To the Court: The engineer could reach the lover from the scuttle, where he would probably be standing when not: in the engine-room. Alfred Ernest Jaggs, agent for Stainton and Co. at Waitara, said that on the Turanga’s last trip the cargo was well stowed. She left Waitara about 10.40 p.m. and cleared the bar as 11 p.m. The weather was perfect. He saw the captain and crew, all of whom appeared in good health.

.lames A. Bysantson, holder of foreign going master’s certificate and signalr/an at Mokau, said that on April 28 he was advised that the Turanga would need the lights at 9.30 p.m. He set the lights and kept a look-out for the Turanga. At 12 o’clock he went to bed thinking the vessel had not left Waitara. He left the lights burning. The sea was calm with a light breeze off the land. He got up at four o’clock next morning and was going out when he received a ring to say that the Turanga had gone ashore. He found that there was a big sea on the bar. The compass on the vessel belonged to witness and was a good one. The lights were stilt burning in the morning. To Captain Crawford: The compass would not be required entering the river as the leading lights were sufficient. SURVIVORS’ EVIDENCE. Roy Goddard, of the Turanga’s crew, said that after leaving Waitara he took the wheel for two hours, when Smith the A.B. relieved him. Witness went below to sleep. He was called to take in the sails. After this was done they were outside Mokau and the captain instructed Scott (the engineer) to stand by. When they got on the bar witness looked around and saw a big sea coming and immediately the boat rolled over. At that t:me Captain Stearne was at the wheel and Smith was in company with him. Scott was standing by the scuttle. To the Court: He did not hear any conversation indicating any anxiety on the part of anyone. Leonard H. Smith, who was A.B. on the Turanga, said that when he saw the big wave coming he remarked on it to the captain, who was in tl.e wheelhouse. This was the last he saw of the captain. The wave lifted the vessel by the stern and then turned it over. To Mr. Billing: The engine was in perfect order all the trip. He did not know of anything they could have done to save the ship, as there was no time. There was nothing previously to wain them of the big wave as the sea was very calm. There was no experience at ‘all to indicate that the vessel touched the bar. To Captain Berg: Captain Stearne was supposed to be a good swimmer, but on looking round in the water witness could not see him. The ship was then bottom upwards. David. L. Scott, engineer on the Tur-

atiga at the time of the accident, said he was standing by the scuttle when he saw the big wave coming and he gave a warning to the others. He did not go into the engine room but stood by the scuttle. There was no time to do anything tc save the vessel. The ship turned over with the engine running and the electric light was still burning with the ship bottom up. To Mr. Morrison: If the speed of the vessel had been increased the wave might not have overtaken them, but they were not looking for any such hap pening. I FINDING OF THE COURT. At the conclusion of the evidence the following questions were submitted to the Court:—(l) Was the loss due to any negligence of master, error of navigation, improper loading, etc., or equipment?; (2) Was the disaster due solely to the peculiar succession of seas?; (3) Was the conduct of the engineer a contributory factor to the wreck? The unanimous decision of the Court was that the wreck was due to the peculiar seas at the date of the incident. No order was made as to costs, the only understanding being that the Marine Department is to pay witnesses’ expenses.