TASMANIA INQUIRY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 184, 16 September 1897, Page 2

TASMANIA INQUIRY.

—. «~ (BY TKLEGItArII—-CTN CORRIiSt'ONDF.NT). Auckland, Last Night Thk nautical inquiry into the wreck of the Ta'imnia was resumed to-day. The first witness was an elderly Maori man, named Tamehana Waitata Kina, who deposed : I live at Waiwhara, on the Mania Peninsula, and have lived there ever since I was born. I am acquainted with all the coast lines there, and have fished all over the ground there. There arc some deep places and some sha'low. There are no shallow places within a mile or two off the There is a shallow place off the Capo, and the depth of water there is three fathoms. I have seen big steamers passing the Cape about three milts off. There are no rocks there that would affect a steamer on the usual course from Gishorne round the Cape. The witness further deposed that on the night the Tasmania was wrecked he saw a large steamer lying in the direction of the Cape, and he thought she was waiting for daylight. She was not in the position where the Tasmania wreck now lies. Walter Henry Clayton, timber merchant, Gisborne, was the next witness. He deposed : I was a passenger from Auckland by the steamship Tasmania on July 28th. I know the coast lino thereabouts well. At half-past ten o'clock I looked out and could see land right ahead of us, and it looked as if we were surrounded by land. It was dark, but the line of land could Lc clearly seen. ' The land was Mahia Peninsula. I know the coastline well. I have been in there in tho small steamer, Sir Donald. When 1 looked out again a little later, the land was on the starboard side only. The steamer was just on the cape. After half past ten she changed her position, and was then heading round the cipc. She as not much over a mile from the cape. Then I stepped inside again, and a lew minutes afterwards felt a bump, on looking out of the door I saw the (.ape quite close on the starboard side. It seemed closer then than it did before. Immediately I saw tho cape I saw a Hash of light between the course of the steamer and the land, I could not say whether it was Portland Light or not. It only lasted a second or two. Just before I saw the light I heard two tells sounded, and have heard since that it meant " light on the starboard bow." I know the lie of tho land there. Tabic Cape is quite visible from Gisborne. The vessel struck just before I saw the light. I did not see any other passengers on deck. I went over towards the bridge and saw an otlicer go on the bridge. This was after she had bumped. I then heard the order given to get out boats. I looked over the starboard side and saw by the lights that the water was thick aud dirty, as if grey glassy sand was being stirred up. I got some of the sand and water down my neck afterwards while in one of the boats, when the sea came over us. Ido not think the ship stayed on the rock. When we left the ship we used the steer oar, and boats and ship, I am certain were drifting together. We got right out into deep water. I do not think the ship would lie on a rock there without the sea breaking over her. r The enquiry was adjourned.