LOSS OF THE P.S. NEW ZEALAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 31, 15 August 1865, Page 2

LOSS OF THE P.S. NEW ZEALAND.

An inquiry into the loss of the New Zealand took place on Saturday, before Mr. Sale, lt.M., and the Harbor-master, at the Court-house.

Captain Anderson upon being sworn stated— l was master of the New Zealand steamship. She was owited by Messrs. Taylcr and Co , of Boston, United I arrived off Hokitika on the 7th August, and at 10 a.m. the signal being then up to take the bar, steamed in. We arrived safely into tho channel going full speed ahead at the time, when owing to the sea continually striking her bow she had not power enough to stem it, aud shortly after struck. I ordered full steam ahead, but owing to the feed pipes being choked the starboard engine would not work. Finding she did not move 1 ordered them to reverse the engines but witli tho same result. The sea was striking her beam all the time. Shortly afterwards Captain Kerley came on board, and in conjunction with myself ordered a line to bo carried out to tho Titania, 'which was dono by his boat's crew. After tho tide left her I examined tho vessel. I found two or three rents on the port side, and a large rent on the starboard side. I think had she been got off she would never have been seaworthy again. During the interval between the tides anchors were carried but to the south spit . with 80 fathom chain attached. There was also a 6 inch hawser carried out to the Titania. All the head sails were set. As the ebb tide made, she floated off, swinging right across the channel near the south spit, with her head up the channel. The engineer then reported that he was unable to get steam up owing to the boilers being empty. They were then heaving on the hawser, which shortly after carried away, and the vessel then drifted over the spit. At that time tho engineer reported the water over the stoke hole plates. I and Captain Kerley then had a consultation, and agreed that for tho safety of those on board, nothing was left but to beach the vessel, which was shortly after done, about half an hour after sho broke in two amidships.

In answer to questions put by the Collector of Customs, Captain Anderson stated that the vessel was insured in Boston, but ho was not aware for what amount.

Captain Leys stated that he was a passenger on board the New Zealand. Upon our arrival at Hokitika the signal was hoisted for taking the bar. We steamed safely into tho channel, where, owing to the ship not answering her helm quickly enough she struck, a sea striking her at or about tho same time carrying her close up to the beach. She had full steam on at the time ; after striking, the steam was blown off. As soon as the tide went out Captain Kerley came on board. About half-an-hour after she struck I suggested that hawsers should be carried to the Titania, tho tide was then about half-an-hour ebb. One hawser was then carried ashore from the port- quarter. I think that had a warp been carried out te the Titania when she first struck she might have been got off. She did net move Hhat tide. At night a warp was carried to the Titania, and an anchor and chain carried to the south spit, by the directions of the Captain and Harbor-master, and a line was also carried ashore on the north side of the channel. About half-past 8, the tide being then three-quarter flood, steam was ordered to be got up, and the men commenced pulling on the hawsers About this time the engineer reported to me that he was afraid from the way in which tho ship was working she might cause some of the pipes to burst and kill the men working below, and that he would have to blow off the steam. I told him that he had better inform the captain and use his own discretion. I did not hear him tell the captain. Shortly after steam was blown off; about half-an-hour after I heard tho captain order him to get up steam again as quickly as possible as there was an indication of the vessel getting off. The engineer stated that he thought he could not get enough water in the boilers. At this time tho vessel was afloat with her stem on the south spit. They then commenced trying to get up steam, employing kerosene and pitch to get it up more speedily. A boat was then dispatched with a warp on shore, but this was lost owing to the rapid current running at the time. The ship was drifting all the time over the spit, and shortly after was carried ashore by tho wash of the sea. Almost directly afterwards she broke in two. She was making a deal of 'water before she floated, owing to several of her plates having cracked. Ido not think she would have floated out to sea. She might have floated up to tho lagoon, but would have had to be beached there. It was not known that she was so much damaged below until she floated.

In answer to questions from tho Bench, the witness stated that in his opinion Captain Anderson left no meaus untried in order to save the vessel, but failed owing to the steam not being got up at tho proper moment.

Franklin West stated — I was chief engineer on board the steamship New Zealand. I remember the 7th August. Wo prepared to take the bur about 1 1 o'clock ; the signal was then up to take tho bar, and wo did so, full steam being on at tho timo. After the vessel struck, tho starboard engine was rendored useless owing to the feed pipes being choked with Band ; the order was given to go a-head at full speed, which was dono, but only by tho port engine. After some time an order was given to reverse tho engines. The starboard engine was useless owing to tho port boiler being choked. About twenty minutes after, the water put tho fires out, ami wo then blew „ tho steam oft', and filled the boilers with the ship's pump. After tho tide went out wo remained where we struck till the next tide, and endeavored to

plug the leak during the interval. Upon the tide beginning to make, the captain and harbor master asked me to get up steam. I replied that I thought it was useless, as I could not clear the pipes from sund ; the water was still making on her. When she slid off I had not been able to get steam up, owing to the draft pipes being stopped up. We used kerosene and tallow in order to get steam up' quickly. I think had we not slid off into the water as soon as wo did, I should have had . the steam up, and the vessel might have been saved. After she struck in the morning, I examined, tho vessel and found a rent wide enough to insert my fingers through, and I am of opinion that had the vessel been go^" off she would never have been seaworthy; I am not aware that any survey took place after she first struck, but I reported the damage to the captain myself.

By the Harbor Master — I blew steam off after she struck I told the captain there would be danger in getting up the steam again, the pipes oscillating so badly at the time. Had steam not been blown off, I believe some of the men working below would have been killed.

[At this stage, it being then 7 o'clock, the inquiry was adjourned until Monday, when the following evidence was elicited]: —

Wm. Dwyer being sworn, said — I was second engineer on board the steamship New Zealand. I was down in the engine room when wo prepared to cross the bar. Shortly after she struck an order was given to go ahead full speed, but owing- to. tho feed pipes being choked , with sand, the starboard engine would not work, the sea striking her continually causing the engines to revolve forward. ' After the engine had been steaming ahead for some time, an order was given to go astern, which was done. The water was then making on her, being then nearly up to the bars beneath the furnaces. It was then I blew the steam off. There were several plates cracked on the port side, and one large rent on the starboard side when the tide left her. The carpenter endeavored -to stop the leak by driving in wooden wedges; About two hours . before . she floated aii order was given to try and get up tHe steam again. We commenced filling the boilers, but soon after the fires were lighted the force of steam emptied them again. Shortly after this she floated. The water was then making on her so fast that had they attempted to have rnn her out to sea, in my opinion, she would have gone down, the rent on her starboard side being at least two feet long. About three quarters of an hour before she floated we were forced to draw the fires owing to there being no water in the boiler. Had the fires not been drawn the boiler would have blown up. Shortly after the fires were raked out the vessel floated. It was im-, possible to hare got steam up earlier owing to the pumps on deck being out of order, and thcr'* being some 5 lbs of steam on at the time, preventing us filling the boiler. Had steam been on at. the time she floated, it would not have assisted her as the water was so rapidly gaining on her that the fires would have been put out immediately. Captain Kerley was next examined, who stated — I was on board the Cymraes when the New Zealand struck. I was going out on purpose to bring her in. I was on the beach shortly after she struck. At the time she struck the surf was running too high to allow a boat to carry a line from the New Zealand to the Titania ; this was done some time after by my boat's crew. Upon hauling on it her bow was driven into the stream. The moment I could do so I went on board, the engines were then going full speed ahead,' but failed to get her off owing to her being too fast in the sand. After the tide left her I examined her and found two or three rents in her port side ; there was also a rent on the starboard side about half an inch wide, and had she got off she would never have been fit for sea again. She might' have floated up to the lagoon and the cargo have been saved, but she would have had to be beached immediately she arrived. Directly I went on board I ordered the boat's crew to carry out two anchors to the south spit with about 80 fathoms chain attached to them," from the vessel. There was also a line carried from the port bow to the Titania at half-flood. We endeavored to heave her . off but it was ebb tide before she floated. ■ The starboard anchor and chain did not hold when we hove on it. We set- all the head sail. I told the captain to have steam ready as she would float about ebb tide ; it was then 8 o'clock. As the ebb made she floated off, she swung right across the channel near the south spit, with her head up the channel. I told them to go full speed a-head. Had this been done then she would have got in safely. It was then I learnt that they could not get steam up. No one mentioned it to me before. There was nothing further could be done. When I learnt there was no steam I tried to heave her into smooth water, in doing which the line parted. When I found tho vessel going over the bar to sea I took the sail in. She then drifted on the beach. Before this was done I heard tho engineer say that ho could put his fingers through tho starboard side, and that the water was over the stoke holo plates. I thought then for tho safety of those on board it was best to beach the vessel. The warp that was carried to tho Titania was a new one, about six inches. Tho ship was dragged about 120 feet by moans of the hawser before she floated. The hawser parted about 20 feet from the bows. I was in charge of the vessel from about 7 o'clock, and did not leave her until she was a total wreck. This was about 5 o'clock next morning. It was the duty of the engineer to have told mo that the steam could not bo got up before she floated. Tins was not done.

George Lowry, signalman, sworn, stated — I was at the signal staff M'hon the New Zealand went across tho bar* She took the right channel according to my instructions : she slewed in the channel and would have succeeded in entering safely had she had sufficient power to stem tho sea and current." As it was, she appeared to stand perfectly still, the sea causing her to drift

toll the time, when shortly after she struck. There was a two-knot current running at the time. After striking, a line was carried to the Titania and an anchor to the spit. At low water I noticed that she had broken amidships, but I am not sure whether I called Captain Keriey's attention to it or not. In answer to questions put by his worship, the witness stated that in his opinion had the vessel been got off she might have floated to the lagoon, but she would never have been seaworthy again unless as much Were spent on her as she originally oost. The inquiry then terminated.