THE TAIAROA ENQUIRY. The Captain's Certificate Cancelled. [ BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2161, 15 May 1886, Page 2

THE TAIAROA ENQUIRY. The Captain's Certificate Cancelled. [ BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wkllinc ton, Thursday. This morning the Court appointed to enquire into tim Taiaroa disaster delivered judgment. The Court found the vessel was navigated safely up to 3.30 p.m. on the date in question; that the cnurxo should then havo been changed to S. "f \V.. :md at 5 p.m., owing to a change r)f wind, the heavy swell, and the rai«»t overhanging the land, tho captain should have hauled off at Castle Point. He should too havo lessened the risk in the thick weather pre\ ailing, by placing n leadsman in the chains, and at (» or (i.30 p.ni, had he got a ca*t of the lead, he could not have failed t<> have discovered that lie was too close to the shore. At Cape Campbell he ihonld also have taken crossbearings, and should not have left the vessel so entirely to tho control of the second officer after giving him a course to steer, but should have exercised occasional supervision as to the course. He ought also to have sicquainted him 1 elf as to whether there was a distress signal on board, and a snpply of Holmes' lights. It was with great regret that the Court fe'.t bound to say that it appeared that tho Captain did nothing whate\er to prevent a full-power steamer being driven by wind and sea badly to leeward, and broadside on to the beach, 100 miles away from the port ho was bound to. They therefore recommend that the captain's ceitificate, No. 473, be cancelled. They were of opinion that the chief officer should have given an order to starboard the helm, and stopped the engines before calling on tho captain, when land was reported on the pnrt bow. In consideration, however, of all the circumstances, and especially his satisfactory, cool, solf-possessed and courageous conduct after tho vessel had struck, and the second officer reporting no landing, the Couit recommended that the captain be allowed to hold a mate's certificate nt piesent, and that a master's certificate be reissued to him in two year*, providing he has been at s»a as a mate during that interval. Tfce total costs were £33 Gs, and the defendant would have to p-vy £1(510i of that amount.