THE KAPANUI DISASTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7938, 11 January 1906, Page 5

THE KAPANUI DISASTER.

THE ENQUIRY. AUCKLAND, January 9. The enquiry into tho circumstances of the Kapanui-Claymore collision, which resulted in the losa of six lives on tho night of Saturday, December '23, was continued to day before Mr 0. C. Kettle, S.M., and Captams Smith (Wellington) and MoArthur. assessors. Captain Hewitt, ot! the Claymore, in further evidence, said he was aware that tho Kapauui wrscoming in, and the captain of the Kapanui knew the Claymore was goiug out, but neither knew tlio exact time. He sigh tod the green light of the Kupauui when she was a mile and a half in front of him. Whey drew nearer, and the Kapauui passed on the starboard side of the Gael. Witness saw her masthead and green, lights clearly, but not the red light. The red light would not be visible while the masthead and green lights were viaible. When the Kapanui's head was turned across his bows he lost sight of her green light. A short time elapsed before he realised that a vessel which he did not then know was the Kapauui was crossing his course. He kept his hand on the telegraph, and when ho saw what was happening ne blow tho whistle, and ordered full speed astern. About a hundred yards separated the two vessels at the time. Tho effect of reversing the engines was to starboard the head of his ship toward the Kapauui more than the helm could have done it. The Claymore did not strike at right angles, but rather in a glancing position. He knew this for certain, because bis port lights showed on the Kapanui. In reply to Mr Tole (who appeared for the Customs authorities), witness said the Kapanui was heading to pass him on a straight tack. -When he saw the green light disappear ho could not tell what was happening. The ship's position at the time was one of passing, not one of crossing. To the Bench— The Kapanui should have kept on, and passed the Claymore greon to green. It was the established practice to pass in harbour on the most convenient side and there was no rule of the Harbour Board regarding passing iu harbour. Mr Kettle, S.M.— The absence of a red light conduced to the accident? —lf tho light had been there it would hnve given us time to have taken all the way off my ship, although there might not have beep time to prevent the vessel humping. It was th« time' lost after losing sight of the green light, / and before I could rnako out the outline of the bull, that made all the difference. Adam M'Candish said he was a passenger on board the Claymore., He saw neither green, red, nor white v lights on the Kapanui, and only saw the form of the hull. The witness said he was in the boat which picked up CaptaiD Southgate, of the Kapanui. Witness had a conversation with him before the boat returned to the Claymore.' J3e asked the captain how he came to cross the Claymore's bows, and the captain replied that he didn't see the Claymore until after passing the Gale. The captain also stated that the port light had gone out. LATER. Captain Southgate, of the Kapanui, said that when he was almost abreast of the Gael the red light went out. He ordered a boy to re-light it immediately, and steered to starboard across the wake of the Gael to avoid the Claymore, which was coming end on. He did not whistle because the Claymore whistled oncu apparently, indicating that she would take the opposite course. If the Claymore captain said that he kept a straight course witness could not contradict bim. He knew by going to starboard he would show no light, but he expected that tne Claymore would understand that the red light had gone out. He himself observed article 25 to keep to starboard. He had only drunk two glasses of liquor in his life. Jn a former Nautioal Court which inquired into a coii lision he was exonerated.