H.—ls

26

RETURN of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department— continued.

Date of ! Name of Vessel, Casualty.: Age a^°class . Rij Number of Nature of Number Lives lost. Place where Casualty occurred Wind. Decision of Court of Inquiry, &c. Name of Master. be ~ iPassen- © i g | gers. Cargo. Casualty. Direction. Force. 1896. Nov. 11 Soukar Ship .. |1304 General Loss of life only 1 Lat. 38° 29' S., long. 28° 59' E., on voyage from Liverpool to Wellington Ponui Passage Lighthouse w.s.w. Strong gale An assistant steward named Ernest Winter is supposed to have falleD overboard from the topgallant forecastle while procuring water from over the ship's side Vessel collided with lighthouse. Casualty caused through vessel being in stays when strong squall heeled her over, and there was no room to wear round in time Casualty appears to have been accidental, and no one to blame Casualty caused through fresh in river setting vessel to northward, and s.s. " Huia," towing her, not having her in proper command Casualty caused through vessel touching ground between rise and fall of sea, and wind falling away and going more ahead Casualty caused through steering-gear, being new, acting less quick at a critical moment than the pilot expected Vessel sank at her moorings in about four fathoms of water in the night, during the gale, when no one was on board The master did not make sufficient allowance, when crossing the entrance to Cook Strait, for the inset of the current, but at 8.30 p.m., becoming anxious about his position, properly altered his course, and did all he could to save his vessed, and probably would have done so had the wind not failed. The Court returned his certificate, and made no order for costs Master responsible, through error in judgment, in trusting to cross-bearing taken to a sandhill instead of a more clearly defined point, but chiefly to his leaving bridge when running for laud without giving full and sufficient instructions to officers of watch. Fourth officer censurable for not taking more prompt action at time of danger, and for keeping insufficient look-out. Master's certificate suspended for three months, and ordered to pay costs of inquiry, £15 15s., less £5 to be paid by Edward Forsyth, fourth officer Vessel not being under control during calm, she was caught by baffling puffs of winds and adverse tide, and quietly took the ground till tide rose to full Moses Carden. 16 Huon Belle, 33 years Ketch .. 42 Sand .. Collision ; partial loss S.W. Strong breeze ; squally Peter Johnson. 16 Clematis, 24 Ketch .. Ballast.. Loss of mast and sails Stranded ; no damage 18 miles north of Kaikoura Peninsula Bar of Wanganui River s.s.w. Strong breeze Light .. Hans Kruhl. 67 5 17 years Coquette, 13 years Schooner 214 8 Ballast.. N. Samuel Brown. 25 Rock Lily, 9 years Ketch .. 50 Timber.. Stranded; no damage Bar of Waimakariri River S. William Thomas Taylor. „ 28 Corinna, s.s., 14 years Schooner 820 General Stranded; no damage Abreast red light, entrance to Nelson Harbour Off Clyde Quay, Wellington Harbour Peter Nordstrum. Dec. 3 Liberty, 2 months Ketch .. 14 Nil Foundered; total loss N.W. Gale .. John Chalmers. 8 D elmira, 3 2 Schooner 338 General Stranded; total loss Barton Point, Cape Palliser S.E. Light .. Frederick A. Hutchinson, 10 years 1897. Jan. 1 Ruapehu, s.s., 14 years, Al Lloyd's Stranded; partial loss Farewell Spit Dugald Stuart. Barque.. 2658 102 220 General Pig Island, Queen Charlotte Sound . 2 Elizabeth Price, 23 years Schooner 98 Ballast.. Stranded; slight damage Ca lm Thomas Hughes.