THE STRANDING OF THE BARQUE HUDSON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1438, 8 December 1885, Page 2

THE STRANDING OF THE BARQUE HUDSON.

At Christchurch on Friday Mr Ollivler, R.M., delivered tha following judgment in connection with the stranding of the barque Hudson “I am of opinion that the charge against Captain Thomas, of neglecting to take necessary precautions for the sifety of Ids ship, has been sustained. It would appear from the crptain’s own evidence that at noon on tlie 25th November he was in lat. 45.16 S., long. 172.7 E. Subsequently up to 9.30 p.m. he made a distance of thirtynine miles by log. At this point had he taken soundings he should have had not less than twenty fathoms, but he had overrun his distance sixteen miles, and then when soundings were taken sixteen fathoms were found. According to his own and the chief mate’s evidence at this point, at half-past nine, ha was barely ten miles from the land. He tacked and stood to the E, by b T . and kept this course for a distance of ten miles, when he again tacked towards the land at half-past’twelve, At this lime he considered he should have been twenty-five miles off the land, but was in fact only eleven miles. Allowing for the current experienced fromnoon till 9 30 p.m., his course was parallel with the land, and had be continued he would have struck the Peninsula. From half-past twelve his distance run according to the log was four miles, when the look-out reported land. This was at two o’clock, and shortly afterwards the vessel stranded. That there is a remarkable current on this coast the experience of the last seven years has conclusively established, and this is particularly observable on the Ninety Mile Beach, as witness the accidents which have occurred to the Clyde, tlie Ringarooma, and others, and the narrow escape of the Tararua and the Coptic, and also as proved by the testimony of experts such as those whose evidence has been tendered for the defence. It is to be remarked that official cognizance has not been taken of the matter before. If only for the benefit of masters of vessels trading for the first time on this coast, we ’recommend this to the considera'ion of the Department of Government concerned, and suggest that a brief note calling attention to this important matter should be appended to the Neio Zealand Pilot for general information. The existence of this current was, however, known to the chief mate, and justified the order he had given to the second officer to keep the lead going between the time of hia leaving tlie deck at half-past twelve and two o’clock. Although they had sighted tha land and were enveloped in a dense fog the lead was never cast. lam therefore of opinion that the conduct of the second male is deserving of censure. The captain should have known at 9.30 p.m., from soundings taken, that he was sixteen miles nearer the land than the distance run by Jog, and should have taken the precaution to have kept his vessel in deep water, and consequently in safety. He should have kept the lead going when approaching the coast, especially in thick weather. Failing this, I im of opinion that the accident was caused by the captain not using the necessary precautions for the safety of his ship, and therefore direct that his certificate be suspended for three months. I also direct the suspension of the certificate cf the second mate for a like period, fn this judgment the Nautical Assessors concur.”

The certificate of the chief officer was then returned to him, those of the captain and second mate being retained. Mr Nalder, solicitor for the captain and second mate, spoke of appealing against the decision of the court, on behalf of the master.