THE WRECK OF THE TAIAROA. Official Inquiry. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Saturday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2150, 20 April 1886, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE TAIAROA. Official Inquiry. [BY TELEGRAPH.-PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Saturday.

The official inquiry into tho wreck of the Taiaroa began this morning before Mr Stratford, K.M., and Captain Ninris Nautical Assessor. Mr Traveib appeared for Captain Thompson. The latter was first examined. He deposed that the Taiaroa'a swing and c tinpabses were adjusted about eight nvniths ago. The card which was in thy cabin showed S west of deviation. A north-weht wind was blowing: when she left Wellington, which gradually died away abreast of Cape Campbell. The Hauroto passed the Taiaroa seven miles this side of th«» Cape on the inside, about a mile from theTuiaroj. The wind changed to the south after passing the Cape, and blew fresh from the south with heavy rain. Witness was on deck till six o'clock, when lie went to tea. Could see land till between balf-pjust four and five, but after that the rain obscured it, and he only got occasional glimpses. There was a patent log, and it wai put out at Wellington Heads. During the N. W. weather wa* going 10£ knots, but after six p.m. 9 knots. At about twentyfive minutes past six went on deck, but could not see land. Told the mate to keep a sharp look-out. Changed the course about four p.m. to S, |W. Shortly nfter seven land was reported right under the port bow, but it was too dark to say wh.it it was. Witness rushed up on the bridge, and found the helm being put hard starboard. Gave the order full speed astern. At the same time she struck, and whon the witness got on the bridge the telegraph pointed to full spend ahead. She would not go astern, but bumped heavily several times. He told the carpenter to let off rockets and blue lights, and he set on* of each himself. He supposed the rest got too wet. He had no Holmes' deck-light on board. Believed that had the vessel been stopped at once, instead of waiting to give the alarm she might possibly h.ive been saved, as allowing the rate of nine knot, she would then have been 540 yards from the shore. Did not think it necessary to alter the course half a p int south to provide against the south-east roll and strong southerly wind. It was a steady rule of the company that the officer of the watch wiu to give the alarm to the captain. He never knew where they had struck till he got to Blenheim. Heard no passenger ask him where they were, but the mate asked him, and he said probably about 20 miles from Kaikouru. Would swear did not say five miles from Kaikoura. He intended, had he not been blown away, to let tho boats hang on to the ship, and see if she resisted j the waves, and then return on board in the morning if safe to do so. He did not take bearings of Cape Campbell when he altered the course. Could give no explanation of the cause of the accident unless it was faulty steering or a strong current. Never knew of a current setting in to lee there, but had heard of it since the wreck. There was nothing about it on th« chart. He had made the same voyage once a fort, night for nine months. He only knew the helmsman by night ; not his name. He was drowned. This closed the captain's examination, and the inquiry was adjourned till ten a.m. on Monday. April 19. The following is the continuation of the Taiaroa enquiry; — Capt. Gray, of the Government steamer Stella, deposed to knowing the coast between Wellington and Lyttleton. He had been sailing as master of vessels since 1872. Frequently he had found it necessary to Anchor along the coast line between Kaikoura and Cape Campbell when landiug stores at the lighthouse and telegraph material. Witness knew of no current setting in along this coast, but usually currents in New Zealand were affected by wind and were generally along land. With) a southerly wind, the current would b3 along the land. He could not say whether three or four hours could make a great difference to the current. The swell would have some effect on a vessel flying light, and would send her on more than the current. He knew of no current independent of the wind. By casting the lead ten fathoms of water could be got half-a-mile off the shore. Captain Wills, of the steamer Wakatu, whJQ.li traced, bfltwepn Wellington and Ljtteltnn, also other places beyond the •last, deposed that he had been on th. t line tight or nine years. The current along that coast invariably sets to north, but would be affected by a northerly wind. The current would bo more than (wo knpts,

jjfi hour. The currents \v mill h • along the land, and would be felt with gre it >r Htrengthclo.su in sh^ro th.m when *ix or sown milfH off. If it «r.v« blowing a hard northcrlv wind, which sudd"nly changed to southward, there would be very little current. Had known a cuitent of two miles per hour to sat in in a nnrt'ierlv direction .it the approach of a nnuth»ils q »le. C.ipt. Hendali, Mirv-vi f.ir tno Underwritt'i-. 1 Association .1 1 Lloyd' I*,1 *, di»j»'wed to M-iting tic ttceiif of tho wrrck on tho 13th in^t. He went on board the Taiaroa, uvl looked .it tho biidco compos, wliic!i sliowod li"t td lie tundi'ig ni'iily SS.W. T ! n> ship li? t^tno iteel was ab nit .1 rpintor of .1 mil.> f.om \V.ti|)i[»a Point Tiio forcci-tlc of th*^ T.u<uo\ w»s ,ibo\it 10ft f 1 out the shore at low water. Hcr*t'm v .is .ibout t\\ic<* a« far oif. Win n witness was at Llin wierk tlii'io was a pood swell from tho southward. They li.id no difficulty in returning on bond. Thee w.v. no duij(<»i in 1 Hiding at the beach itisidt; tlie \e-Mjl. Wiion he was there it would iv>t, however, be s..\fe to land to the northward. Hn went over tlie .s!ii|> ,m \ impecWl her cabins. The top bet t!i<> on the staibmrd side were dry. Since witness fir^t came to Now Zealand was 2(5 years. He had hoaid that there were currents on that part of the coa^t where the Taiaroa was wrecked, but he had never experienced any difficulty »tr<mg enough to interfere with a \e~sel picking up expected headland*. Witness was not in a position to say whether it was safo to lay in boats alongside of the steamer, not whether it would have been Hafe to land with a heavier sea than when he wan there. The vessel wa> lifting from 8 to 10 degiees, and did not appear to be injured. At this stage, Mr Hell, for the Marine Department, applied for a fortnight's adjournment in order to give him time to produce further evidence. Tho Court granted the lequest till May 3rd.