THE CAPSIZING OF THE RONGA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8154, 8 June 1906, Page 7

THE CAPSIZING OF THE RONGA.

RESULT OF THE ENQUIRY.

LYTTELTON, June 6. r Air Bishop, 8.M., gave his decision at Lyttelton, yesterday morning, iu the Magisterial enquiry into the capsizing of the schooner Bonga. He said the schooner left Lyttelton on 21st April aDont noon, when southerly gale was blowing. She probably arrived off- Cape Campbell about midnight, and was capsized by the violence of the wind and sea. It would appear she then had all sails set. It was quite impossible in the absence of direct evidonce to state the cause of the disaster. After the alterations to the masts and sails which had been made the Konga was considered thoroughly safe, if sufficiently ballasted and the ballaßt properly spoured. She had 33 tons of coal properly trimmed, but with out shitfing the boards when she left Lyttelton, and was stated to have then sufficiently ballasted. The Magistrate wishes to direct the attention of the Minister of Marine to the evidence in the enquiry with a view, to considering whether it does not indicate the necessity for regulations providing for some supervision of vessels of the type of the Rouga and to ascertain their stability and seaworthiness of sailcarrying capacity before they are allowed to proceed to sea.

The assessors did not consider snch regulations necessary, and wdre of opinion that they would tend too much to hamper trade. They agreed with the Magistrate that the use of shifting boards should be compulsory in oases of such vessels when carrying loose ballast.