SATARA WRECK.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10031, 29 April 1910, Page 5

SATARA WRECK.

MARINE ENQUIRY,

THE CAPTAIN TO BLAME.

Unit© 1031 Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.

Received April 28, 9.40 p.m. SYDNEY, April 28

At the marine enquiry into the loss of the Satara, Captain Hugill stated that after the vessel struck he took bearings, which put the Satara about a quarter of a mile northeast of Edith Break.

Binstead, the pilot, stated that he had taken laige vessels through the inner passage many times. The object was to get out of the southern current with a g?in of about five miles run between Newcastle and the Queensland coast. Shortly before she struck the ship was heading between Peak Rock and Seni Rocke. If she had struck Edith break, Peak Rock would have been straight ahead, instead of which it was considerably upon the port bow. He was satisfied he was clear of Edith Break. He admitted that his pilot's license did not authorise him to take charge of vessels outside of QepnsJand waters, but it had been customary for the Torres Straits pilots to take charge of ships before getting inio their own waters so as to ascertain the compass deviation, and discover how the vessels would act.

The captain of a small coasting steamer said be knew of a submerged uncharted rock surrounded by deep water, eastward of Edith Break. The Court found that the loss of the vessel was caused by the wrongful act ofCaptain Hua;iU by allowing a course to be set which caused her to strike Editn Break, and called upon him to show cause why his certificate should not be dealt with.