THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE P.S. FAVORITE AND THE P.S. DISPATCH.

West Coast Times, Issue 676, 23 November 1867, Page 2

THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE P.S. FAVORITE AND THE P.S. DISPATCH.

Ofkoul Enquibt. An official enquiry into the collision between the steamers Favorite and Dispatch, which took place on the 13th instant, was held yesterday in the Court Fouse before the Resident Magistrate. Mr FitzG*rald and the Collector of Customs, Mr Patten. Mr South attended on behalf of the Captain and owners of the Favorite, and Mr Bees on behalf of the captain and owners of he Dispatch. William- Dear deposed — I am a master mariner, I hold a master's certificate from the Board of Trade. I hold also a Melbourne certificate; th# ratifioatt from th«

Board of Trade vras lost when the vossel was ashore on Hokitika bar in November last year. I am now master of the Dispatch. Whilst crossing the Hokitika bar on the 13th instant, we saw the Favorite coming down. When I first saw her I had crossed the bar, and was coming into the channel. When I saw the Favorite running down I put .my helm down hard a-port, at the same time I asked the leadsman what water he had. He replied seven feet. I made signs to the Favorite to port his helm. In the meantime he was starboard with his helm. Tho Favorite shortly afterwards struck the Dispatch on tho paddle-box. I afterwards brought the Dispatch up to the wharf. I saw that the Favorite was disabled in some way, but I could not tell how. I knew she was disabled in some way by the men on board waving their hands to me. I did not see her go ashore. I saw her afterwards on tho beach. I had not time after I first saw the Favorite to turn round aud go out to sea. again — it would not have been possible to do bo. I stopped tho Dispatch to avoid a collision, if possible, and then gave the order to go astern. When I first saw the Favorite from where I was I could then see the lower end of the wharf. The Favorite was about a hundred yards from the lower end of the wharf when I first saw her. I account for not seeing her before because we had sufficient to do in crossing the bar to look after our own vessel. It is not usual to have a man on the look out when crossing the bar. The Favorite's whistle ought to have blown, or the signal flag ought to have been lowered. lam quite sure we were over the bar when we saw tho Favorite. The mate of tho Dispatch, nainod Kitcheuhain, was steering at the time. By Mr Rees — The Dispatch was inside the channel of the river when I first saw tho Favorite. I know where the water of the lagoon comes into the liver ; the collision occurred some five or six yards below there. I ordered tho engines to be disconnected about a minute before the collision. When the Dispatch was struck by the Favorite her (the Dispatch's) engines wero going astern. I was then as close as possible to tho south spit without going ashore. Just beforu this tho mate pointed out to me that the Favorite's helm was starboarJ. The Favorito struck the Dispatch witli her bow on the fore sponson. Immediately before and at the timo of the collision the Dispatch's helm was hard a-port. 13y Mr South — I know a vessel culled the Challenge, she is a steam-tug. I saw tho Challenge on the morning of the 13th outside the bar, it was then about 10.30 a.m. I saw her about five minutes bofore the collision. She was then in tho river about 300 yards from us. She was well iv sight. At tho time of the collision I was standing on the bridge of the Dispatch ; the mate was then at the holm. lam perfectly positive that I could not have gone out to sea again when I first saw the Favorite. I did not see Captain Wilson on board the Challenge at the time of the collision. I first gave the order for the engines of the Dispatch to be disconnected and stopped, and then immediately after I gave the order to go astern. At the time I waved my hand to tho Favorite to port her helm I think she hacl a starboard helm. I will swear that I was not ouside the bar when I first saw the Favorite. I know the rules of every port having bars and channels, and I know it to be the duty of a master of a vessel to go outside if he can when 1" c sees another vessel coming towards him — the master in that ease should take the port side — it is U3ual for vessels on the bar to look out for other vessels — it is usual to do so before attempting to take the bar. When I first saw tho Favorite I was inside the first break. I did not hear any whistle at all. I sivw a red flag on the flag staff head, that was flying the whole time. Thoma3 Kitchenham deposed — I am mate on board the steamer Dispatch. I have no certiGcates. On the 13th November, between 12 and 1 o'clock, we were crossing the bar at Hokitika. We were coming into tho river. I was then at the wheel, on the bridge. Captain Dear was then witli me. We crossed over the bar between 12 and 1 o'clock, and when abreast of the bar I saw the Favorite coming down the river near the North Spit. The vessels wero then five or six times their own lengtfi from each other. The captain ordered mo lo port the helm, which I did. As we neared tho Favorite, the captain called attention to the fact of the Favorite's helm being so much on starboard ; at the same time he said, " Always keep it hard a-port." We were then in seven feet water, according to the report of the lcadmau. The captain ordered the engines to bo pulled out of gear to stop and to go astern, whicn was done. The Favorite's engines did not Btop until both vessels met. As far as I could see at. the wheel, both boats met at the fore part of the paddle-boxes, on the port-side. Wo afterwards got clear of the Favorite, and proceeded to the wharf. The Dispatch has been slightly damaged by tho collision. I swear we wero over the bar at the time of tho oollision, and were nearly abreast of the lagoon at the time. John Sewell, deposed — I am an engineor on board the Dispatch. I recollect tho 13ih November, on which day tho collision took place. I was then in the engino-room. About a minute beforo the collision took placo the Captain gave tho order to disconnect her engines, and then the order was given to stop her and go aßtern at full specd — that wa3 a few moments before the collision took place. The engines did not receive any damage. By Mr South — I believe the vessel had head way on her at the time of tho collision. When I first received orders to stop her she would be going at half speed, about twentyfive revolutions a minute — that would bo about four knots. Not a second elapsed between the orders to stop and to go astern. The inquiry was then adjourned to noon on Monday.