WRECK OF THE TAIAROA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1495, 20 April 1886, Page 3

WRECK OF THE TAIAROA.

Blenheim, Apiil 17

Mr Vallance’s body was buried ot Flaxbourne yesterday, the Rev. T. S. Grace of Blenheim reading the eervices. Mr Vallance’s brother and Mr Mason, his late partner, were present. There is no further news from the wreck, and no more bodies have been recovered. Messrs Grant and McQuartier, two of the survivors, reached here last night, where they remain under instructions from Government; until McQuartier, who is still suffering from the night’s adventure in the open boat, is well enough to travel. Every attention to the wants of the survivors is being shown by the Government and the Union Shipping Company. April 19. A considerable quantity of passengers’ luggage has been recovered from the hold of the Taiaroa and sent away in the Wakatu. Amongst the boxes was Mrs Fitzgerald’s, containing personal trinkets and effects. Her box was much damaged, and a portion of the contents lost in the water. Yesterday a gang of men were put on board by the Union Company and got out more luggage, but had to leave the vessel on account of heavy seas. She »howed signs of heavy straining. The Taiaroa’s cargo was sold this afternoon to Watson and McKenzie for £3O. Wellington, April 17. The Seamen’s Union have resolved to subscribe £SO towards the fund for the relief of ihe widows and children lost in the Taiaroa. Dwnebin, April 18. The funerals of the Chief Officer, Monkman, and Mr Morrison, late a fireman of the Taiaroa, which took place today, were very largely attended, the Druids, of which Morrison was a member, mustering strongly. THE INQUIRY. Wellington, April 17. The official inquiry into the wreck began this morning before Mr Stratford, R.M., and Captain Morris, Nautical Assessor. Mr Travers appeared for Captain Thomson, and the latter was first examined.

The following are the principal points of bis tviflence :~Wben the vessel got to Wellington Heads she was started to west three-quarters, the usual course, till she reached Cape Campbell. She then deviated three-quarters of a point from the true course. The Taiaroa was swung and compasses were adjusted about eight months ago. The card, which was ini he cabin, showed three-quarters west of deviation. A nor’-west wind was blowing when she left, but it gradually died away abreast of. Cape Campbell. The Hauroto passed the Taiaroa seven miles this side of the Cape, on the inside, about a mile from the Taiaroa. The wind changad to south after passing Cape Campbell and blew freah with heavy rain. Witneas was on deck till six o'clock when he want to tea. He could see the land till 4.50 and 5 p.m., but after that the clouds obscured it and he only got occasional glimpses. There was a patent log on board, and it was put out at Wellington Heads. During the north-west weather the steamer was going 10£ knots, after 6 p.m. only nine knots. About 6.25 he went on deck again but could not see land. He told the mate to keep a sharp look out, and changed the course about 4 p.m. to S, | W. Shortly after 7 land was reported, right under the port bow, but it was too dark to see what it was. Witness rushed up on to the bridge and found that the helm was being put down hard-a-starboard. He gave the order “ full speed astern,” and at the same moment she struck. When witness got on the bridge the telegraph pointed full speed ahead. She woqld pot go astern but bqtpped heavily several times. He tol4 the carpenter to let off rockets and blue lights, and he set offoae of each. He supposed the rest got too wet. He had none of Holmes’ deck light* onboard. The boats were dropped astern of the gangway, not astern of fhe ship, bo as to g prptectioq of the hull. The sea broke over the ship now and again. He sent the second mate in the gig to try and get t, line ashore, hut ,hf returned

saying Ilia lie* eh was too steep and lie cou'd not land. One of the lifeboats was lowered on tho weather side, and taken round under the stern, but she stove herself in a little in the operation. When his own boat (the pinnace) broke away they canid only get one rowlock to work. They found a spike nail in the bottom of th» boat, and tied on oar to it, but even with the two oars she could make no headway. Ho afterwards made rowlocks out of yoke lines ; again tried to get buck, but without avail. He never knew where they struck till he got ta Blenheim, and heard no pasaanger ask him where they were ; but the mate did ask him, and he said Probably about twenty miles from Kaikoura.” He would swear he did not any “ five miles from Kaikoura " or that they wore in Half-Moon Bay. He did not think that if ho had looked at the compass ho would have known that he was ashore on Waipapa Point, and even if he had, ho would still have put the passengers in the boats, He intended, if he had not been blown away to let the boats hang on to the ship and see if she resisted the waves, and then return on board in the morning if it had been safe to do so. He could not tell the court how he came to run ashore. He never looked at the compass after four o’clock. When he altered his course at Cape Campbell he did not enter it in the log, but in a note*book, which was in the clothes he left at the ship. He did not take the bearingsof Cape Campbell when he altered bis .course;' and could give no explanation of the cause of the accident, unless it was faulty steering, or a strong current setting int# the land there. He had heard of it since the wreck, but there was nothing about it on the chart. He had made the same voyage once a fortnight for nine months. He only knew the helm*,man by sight not by his name. He, was drowned. There were three compasses on board and the ship had some iron in the forehold and on the foredack, but not enough to aff#ct them. The usual course was not adhered to as far as Cape Campbell, on account of the strong nor’-wester. He did not hear the look-out man sing out. He had never before been close to the shore between Capo Campbell and Waipapa. So far as witness knew the helmsman steered properly. The wind came up suddenly when the accident happened. When he left the deck at ten minutes to six the vessel was 22 or 23 miles south of Cape Campbell. He believed that had the vessel been stopped at once instead of waiting to give the alarm, she might possibly have baon saved, as allowing for the rate of nine knots she would have been 540 yards from shore. He did not think it necessary to alter the course half a paint southerly to provide against the south-east roll and strong southerly wind. It was a standing rule of the company that the officer of the watch was to give the alarm to the captain. This closed the captain’s examination, and the enquiry was adjourned till 10 a.m. on Monday. April 19, The official enquiry into the wreck of the Taiaroa was continued at Wellington to-day. No new facta of, importance were elicited.