THE LOSS OF THE LYTTELTON.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1560, 24 March 1887, Page 4

THE LOSS OF THE LYTTELTON.

The Lyttelton case was resumed on Monday at Wellington. The principal witness examined «v»s George Lloyd, a diver, who described the position of the vessel shortly after the wreck. When he examined the starboard side of the vessel he found a row of holes perforated like the nose of a watering-pot ; the holes were about eight inches apart, except in one ph.ce, where several holes .were knocked into one. On putting his hand to them he could feel a pipe inside, if the port anchor had gone through the vessel he would have been sure to have noticed- it. Witness had been told by another diver that he (Lennie) had found another anchor, one fluke of which was through a plate, and the other in the ground, and the stock bent as if the vessel had sat on it. Witness went down on November 13th to look for this anchor, and found that the port side of the vessel had fallen in. He found an anchor near the foremast on the port side, which he thought was the port anchor, but afterwards found it was not. One of the flukes was on the ground, but he could not say whether it was through the ship’s side or not. He found a small kedge anchor about four feet from ir, and a large shackle vveighing about Icvvt, On the top of the shank of the larger anchor there was the spare stock of another anchor, It appeared as if they had fallen from above that position. The fluke of the larger anchor was about 12ft from the foremast. He would swear that the port anchor was not near the forward part of the ship. These anchors were about (3ft on the port side of the keel, the stock and shackle standing up against a break in the vessel. Wra, Collis, diver to the Tunaru Harbor Board, deposed to examining the vessel. He found no hole in her side, nor was the vessel resting on any hard substance, He also found the anchors mentioned by Lloyd. John Marshall deposed that he saw the Lyttelton leave Timnru on the morning of the wreck. He saw the vessel from the time she was taken in tow till she went down. He noticed a pecular heaviness about betbows, and she did not seem le be buoyant a* ships usually are. He was so impressed with the vessel’* appearance that he remarked it to a man named Morris, drawing his attention to it. He thought from the vessel’s appearance that she would never leave the harbor. Robert Norris and G. Murdock corroborated the last witness as to the appearance of the vessel. The Court then adjourned till the following day. On Thursday a number of witnesses deposed to the ship being down at the head after getting under weigh, Frank Duncan, one of the pilot crew, did not think it possible for the ship-to have gone over her anchor when it was cast. Would sweir that the ship got no nearer than 40 feet to her anchor when it was hauled up. Captain J. H, Sutter, Chairman of ttie Harbor Board, considered that Storm was quite right ip dropping the anchor, and said that Captain Storm was a competent end careful man, Ifthe vessel had gone ashore the pilot would have bt en prosecuted for not letting go the anchor. If the anchor came in contact with any portion of the flat bottom of the vessel it would probably glance off. Hugli McLennan, examined, said that he considered there was plenty of room for the steamer to tow the ship to sea if the ship was in proper trim, Notwithstanding the w#y ihe Grafton was heading she could, if properly handled, have towed the vessel to sea. The pilot acted prudently in porting the ship’s helm after she touched the bottom first, notwithatandisg that it would draw the steamer out of position. The Captain of the Grafton did right in casting off the tow rope when the ship ported her helm. Captain Storm had no alternative but to let go the anchor when the steamer cast off. It was impossible for a vessel drawing 18ft forward and 17ft aft to

etiike the bottom in 20ft assuming the waves were 6ft high. It was impossible, on any theory on record, to suppose that the anchor would stand on its crrown on a bottom like that of Timaru Harbor. It was also impossible for the ship to go over her anchor without feeling a series of bumps as it went froth frame to frame ; and the anchor would be found a few fathoms aslero of her. After taking similar evidence to that of McLennan the Court adjourned till Wednesday.