S.—ls

22

RETURN of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department from the 1st April, 1896, to the 31st March, 1897.

Date of Name of Vessel, Casualty. Age Rig. ©?„ Number of Nature of Number of Lives lost. Place where Casualty occurred. Wind. Decision of Court of Inquiry, &c. Name of Master. | Passenw gers. | Cargo. Casualty. Direction. Force. 1896. April 8 Queen of the South, s.s., 19 years Schooner 121 12 General Collision; no damage 3 miles off Napier Breakwater N. Light .. The steamer struck fishing-vessel " Girola," and carried away her bowsprit. Casualty caused through the " Girola" having no lights up Vessel grounded on South Spit on entering the river Stranding partly due to unreadiness of tugmaster to put way on vessel after he gave orders to cast off headlines, and to unhandiness of tug's crew; also to absence of arrangements for signalling from tug to pilot in charge of ship. The ultimate cause of stranding was due to order given by pilot to port the helm, and to slacking-up of towline immediately after, ship being then in a critical position. Harbour Board blamed for inefficiency of crew of tug and for want of more careful supervision over their employes. Master to blame in entirely trusting to advice given by pilot, and for not using every means to secure his vessel immediately after stranding. Costs of inquiry, amounting to £9017s., ordered to be paid as follows : Captain Leech, pilot, two-fourths; Captain Nolan, tugmaster, one-fourth ; and Westport Harbour Board, one-fourth Casualty caused by striking a snag off Patea, on passage from Waitara to Wanganui After getting vessel off from stranding at Westport, she was brought to Wellington in a leaky condition by Captain Bendall, who beached her near the Railway Wharf, and, as tide fell next day, she capsized. Captain Bendall blamed for beaching ship without communicating with harbour authorities, and ordered to pay £15 17s., costs of inquiry Casualty caused through heavy gale and terrific seas Edward John Harvey. 12 Waipara, s.s., 33 years Coromandel, 21 years, 100 Al Schooner General Stranded; partial loss Stranded; partial loss South Spit, Okarito River Eastern side of Buller River, Westport W.N.W. Nicholson Wood. 62 8 . 15 Barque.. 848 16 Coal .. N. Strong breeze Lewis Williams. 25 Marramarra, s.s., 12 years Coromandel, 21 years, 100 Al Lugger.. 45 5 Coal Stranded; slight damage Capsized; total loss 3 miles off Patea N.W. Gale .lames Reardon. May 3 Barque.. 848 16 Coal Near Railway Wharf, Wellington Harbour William Bendall. 12 Ocean Rover, 12 Loss of masts, spars, sails, &c. About 25 miles east of Cape Brett, on voyage from Lyttelton to Noumea S.W. side of Ruakaka River, near Whangarei On voyage from London to Auckland, lat. 48° 49' S., long. 114° 55' E. John Johnson. years Schooner 139 Wheat .. S.E. to N.E. Whole gale 13 Norah, 14 years Schooner Ballast.. Stranded; no damage Fire on board; partial loss. N.E. Fresh gale Casualty caused through large raft of logs being moored across channel, which prevented vessel going up river for safety and shelter Fire broke out in No. 5 hold, and was extinguished in about five hours. Supposed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion among some bales of oiled canvas Edward McDonald. 48 3 18 Waikato, s.s., 4 years, 100 Al Lloyd's Schooner 3071 50 General John William. Croucher.