THE WAIRARAPA DISASTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2750, 13 December 1894, Page 1

THE WAIRARAPA DISASTER.

Auckland, Deo. 10. Mr Northcroft iu giving judgment, said that the court was of opinion that the Wairarapa was lost through Captain Mclntosh and the first and second officers not taking a correct point of departure at Three Kings; and not allowing for a current which by the first and second officers’ evidence they should have been aware was running to the east and southeast. Why accurate bearings were not taken and the ship’s course positively fixed seems inexplicable, knowing that they had not allowed for a current with the easterly swell and with the wind fiom north and north-east. Still nothing was done, but the ship was driven at full speed through a fog so dense that at times they could not see more than two ships’ lengths ahead, till she struck, they did not know where. As the captain was in charge tno whole time, never leaving the deck or the bridge, he alone was to blame for the loss of the vessel, and though neglect was shown, in my opinion, by the chief officer subsequent to the wreck, in not using the available boats at his disposal, 1 do not think there is that degree of negligence to entitle the court to cancel or suspend his certificate, or that of any other officer. Had the captain not been drowned there is no doubt his certificate would have been cancelled. We think the crew did not know what to do to get out the boats in the most expeditious manner. It could hardly be expected to be otherwise, they not having had even their farcical boat drill for over six months. After the mismanagement and the smashing of the boats, the ship’s company remaining on the vessel did not do what they might have done, and wh/at we have always expected of Hritish seamen worthy of that name when there are women and children passengers in peril. There was time to have got the passengers to the riggingj but toothing was done in this direction. A few got there unaided. No censure Was too severe for the conduct of the chief officer in regard to the raft ho saw drifting towards the Needles with people. Boats were available but were not used, and no doubt the people were drowned off the raft a considerable time after the wreck. The second officer’s conduct was of a negative character of which nothing could be said. The third officer only rose to the occasion. The court suggested that the boats should be kept swung out-board in fogs. London, Dec.ll. The Standard and Chronicle comment on the verdict iu the Wairarapa case, and express concurrence with the finding of the court. Sydney, December 11. The Sydney Morning tlerald, clamenting on the verdict of the Court of Inquiry, says that it intensifies the sense of indignation regarding the incidents of the deplorable disaster. Tno story of the wreck presents human nature in the meanest of aspects. Negligence, recklessness, indifference, and cruelty are written largely over the report, and the disgraceful conduct of the officers iu not properly and promptly using the boats is apparently to be attributed as much to ignorance as to inhumanity. The wreck is the most disgraceful, perhaps, in all its incidents of all that have over been recorded in connection with Australasian seamanship.