UNKNOWN

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2688, 3 October 1889, Page 2

UNKNOWN

THE CAPTAIiS - ■ 'IiNDED. (BY TELEGIIAHI'.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wellington, Wednesday. The enquiry into the wreck of the Koranui was held to-day. Mr Gulley for tho Customs, asked the Court to consider generally the question of the navigation of the .French Pass, and whether on such a night as that on which the Koranui was wrecked, it would not be advisable to avoid going through the Pass. The evidence adduced was much the same as the particulars published at tho time of the accident. Captain Hill, replying to a question said there was as much danger going round Durville Island as through tho pass, owing to the absence of a light on St. Stephen's Island, and the currents were strong. The witness, in answer to Mr Gulley, admitted that it was evident that if a full complement of passengers had been on board, they could not have been accommodated in the boats. Mr Gulley pointed out that boat accommodation was regulated according to tonnage instead of depending upon the number of passengers that a vessel accommodated. On the basis of tonnage the Koranui had more than tho number of cubic feet ot space required by the Merchant Shipping Act. It was romarkabia that the vessel was licensed to convey more passengers than the boats she was required to carry could possibly hold ; tho amount of boat space that she was required to carry was 573 cubic feet and sho actually had (>25 feet. Still the boat accommodation was entirely inadequate. The Cjurt found Captain Hill had erred in judgment in the course steered after sighting the light. After the vessel struck everything seemed to have been well and properly done for saving the lives of the passengers and crew. The vessel appeared to have been well found in every way and to have had her proper complement of boats, but if she had a fuller number of passengers than she was licensed to carry, a largo number must necessarily have lost their lives for want of boats to take them in. Tho Court, therefore, ordered that Capt. Hill's certificate be suspended for two months, and that he pay tho costs of the enquiry amounting to seven guineas. Tho Court thought the captain's conduct after the vessel struck was worthy of all praise. The Underwriters' Association and the Union S.S. Company are considering tho desirableness of raising tho Koranui, and the sale luis been postponed. Capt. lieudall, Marino Surveyor, with Capt. Dauiolls, foreman shipwright of tho Union Compauy, with two divers, leave to-night to make a thorough inspection of the steamer.