ADJOURNED ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE SCHOONER MARIA.

West Coast Times, Issue 210, 22 May 1866, Page 2

ADJOURNED ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE SCHOONER MARIA.

(Before 0-. G-. Fitzgerald, Esq., R.M. and Edward Patten, Esq., Collector of Customs. This enquiry had been adjourned from Monday, tho 14th instant, to Friday, 18lh, when it was again adjourned to yesterday, in consequence of tho illness of Captain Turnbull and Mr Patten. Thomas Turnbull, being duly sworn, deposed that ho was a master inarinor, holding a certificate of competency from tho Board of Trade. Was harbor-master of Westland. Remembered tho fourth of May. At about 10 a.m. on that day tho witness went out in the Lioness tug, to the Maria schoonor. It was a very fine day, sea smooth, and wind very light from tho S.W. Went on board tho Maria and tbo Lioness left to tow another vessel into tho harbor. Witness remained on board tho Maria. Tho Lioness returned to tho Maria at about half-past ono that afternoon. Tho master reported 9ft. Gin. in tho channel, and asked tbo witness to go in and sound. Went on bo.ird the Lioness and wont into tho channel. Took soundings with tho beacons slightly open to tho N. In that position found 9ft. 3in. With tho south beacons brought into ono found 9ft. Gin. Never had less than 9ft. 6in. That was about 2 p.m. Crossed the bar with tho north side of tho 6ignal hounp slightly open to tho southward of tho pilot's residence. Had then 10ft- 6in. on tho worst part of the bar. Steered out to tho Maria, and took her in tow at about a quarter past 2 p.m. The witness wont on board tho Maria. Sho crossed the bar at about half-past 2 p.m., and touched slightly by tho heel. Had passod over tho bar about two huudred yards, when a blind roller took hor on tho starboard quarter, and her keel took tho ground on tho leo Bide of tho channel. The Lioness drew her ahead about twice her own length. Sho still hung by herheol, but was afloat forward, and as far as whero tho witness was standing, abreast tho mizen rigging on the poop. Tho Lioness continued to tug hor, but without success. Tho Maria sometimes moved ahead a little ; she continued .afloat forward, Tho Challenge, tug, was at that timo coming in from tho Gothenburg. Tho Maria was in a slanting position across tho channel. Tho Lioness slackened her speed, and tho hawser Bunk in tho water, allowing the Challenge to pass over it. After that tho Lioness wont ahead again, and brought tho head of the Maria nearly pointing up channol. Tho Lioness kept her there until tho Maria grounded foro and aft, which sho did in about half an hour. The witness then wont on board tho Lioness in tho harbour boat, and when Captain Whitford found ho could not inovo tho Maria any more, ho called out to thoso on board to let go tho tow-rope. That was done. The witness told Captain Robertson, tho master of tho Maria, that ho would 'endeavor to get a steamer down to him during the night tido. Tho witness arranged with tho captain of tho Lioness that sho should go down to tho Maria at 12 o'clock that night. There was a denso fog that night, and a heavy sea coming in from tho ocean, and Captain Whitford refused to movo tho Lioness down to tho Mavia. I took charge of tho Maria, as pilot, from tho timo the tow lino was mado fast. I boliovo it was high water on tho 4th May, at 2.25 p.m. The Maria crossed tho bar at what (according to my calculation) should havo been tho top of high water. Was certain ho had mado no nmtako in his calculation as to tho proper time of high water. Tho witness thought there was water enough on tho bar if tho Maria had answered her helm, and attributed tho wreck of tho Maria to tho fact of her not answering hor helm after tho third roller struck her inside tho bar. Did not know whether it was on a portion of tho wreck of the Maid of tho Yarra that tho Maria first hung by hor heel, but suspocted it was something of that kind. There was a portion of ,fhe wreck of Ujo Maid of Hie VTurru thero bo-

foro, which has disappeared. Tho witnoss advised that tho Ohallcngo should bo hired to assist tho Lioness. That was before tho Challenge crossed tho hawsor of tho Maria, coming in from tho Gothenburg. Did not givo any ordors to those on board tho Lioness, after sho started to low tho Maria in. Called out at starting, "Go ahead.' 1 Did not interfere with tho Lioness after that, cithor by giving orders or making signals. Boliovcd when they woro inside tho bar ho wayed his hand to tho Lioness, for her to go ahead. Tho witness found after ho camo ashoro that tho tido had not run its proper timo. There had been for for soino time provious a heavy southwest gale, and somo tides had overrun their timo nearly an hour. Half tin hour was tho average timo thoy had overrun their timo during Iho gale. I moan that aftor tho propor timo of high water, tho tides were kept u t ) by tho strongth of tho galo. On tho 4th instant, tho galo had ceased, and a rc-aolion had taken place. That is how tho witness accounted for Iho tho tido not running its propor time. Was not awaro thut there was that re-action after tho south-west galo, until I wont on bliovo. Bolieved tho ro-aotion caused Iho tido to bo cut short, and that it was high water at the wharf, on tho 4th, at about 2 p.m.