H.—ls.

Return of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department from 1st April, 1936, to 31st March, 1937— continued.

38

Number of Nature of Number Wind. Casualty. Sage. T"" j - ks , or binding o, Court of Inquiry. Nam e o, Maater. Crew. Cargo. I Casualty. Direction. Force. J 1936. P June 22 Kapua, aux.m.v., 24 years Ketch .. 6 3 Nil 85 yards shingle .. Stranded; total loss .. Nil Wanga Point, Hauraki S. 2 Owing to the helmsman altering the course F. S. Wyatt. Gulf before the vessel cleared Wanga Point, and without reporting such change of course to the Master, the vessel stranded and became a total loss „ 29 A.N. 2, s.s., 10 years .. Schooner .. 96 12 .. Nil .. .. .. Stranded .. .. Nil Off Fraser Island, West Various 2 The vessel struck submerged coral reef one K. Bordal. Coast of Australia mile seaward of nearest breakers and was held fast for a few minutes. On examination a slight leak was discovered in the bunkers July 4 Waimarino, s.s., 6 years.. Fore and aft 1,752 31 Nil 745 tons .. .. Stranded .. .. Nil Bluff Harbour .. W.S.W. 8 When approaching the wharf the strong J.Bruce. wind caught the vessel, swinging her head on to the wind. Although nothing was felt apparently vessel touched bottom, as a scraping sound was heard. Ex- I amination revealed no damage to the ship i „ 6 Piako, s.s.; 16 years .. .. 5,114 65 Nil Meat and general .. Lost cable .. .• Nil Tokomaru Bay .. W. Gale During a westerty squall of gale force the H. E. Reilly. port anchor cable parted at the studless link connecting the anchor shackle „ 16 Owhiti, aux.m.v.; 12 years Ketch .. 6 4 Nil 75 yards shingle .. Stranded .. .. Nil Near Matheson's Beach, N.E. Strong While going through channel after leaving J. C. Ipsen. Hauraki Gulf beach, the vessel was caught by a strong puff of wind which swept the vessel down on the rocks at the entrance, damaging a propeller and fracturing a plank „ 18 Abel Tasman, s.s.; 19 Schooner .. 1,175 29 .. Timber and general .. Stranded, total loss .. .. Greymouth Bar .. N.W. Moderate The Court found that the vessel was moored W.D.Archibald, years to the wharf in accordance with the usual practice and moored to the satisfaction of the Harbourmaster. Without warning the moorings parted, and the vessel was swept down the river and drifted on to the North Beach, becoming a total loss. Everything was done to save the vessel, and no apparent defect appeared in the mooring-equipment, but it is possible that there was a latent defect in some of the equipment, and the banking-up of debris and logs under the wharf may have been a contributing cause, but the evidence, in the opinion of the Court, was not conclusive enough for it to find that the casualty was due to a cause other than misadventure. The Court found that the casualty was not caused or ! contributed to by the wrongful act or default of the Master or any of his crew or of the Harbour Board and its officials or any other person. The Master's and First Mate's certificates were returned to them. The Court made no order as to payment of the costs of the inquiry ,, 20 Waipiata, s.s.; 10 years Schooner .. 1,063 30 Nil 3,000 tons general .. Cracked hawse-pipe .. .. Between Wellington and S.W. 3 A slight leak was discovered into deck W. Whitefield. Auckland locker under forecastle head on the 18th i July, and on vessel's arrival at Auckland a crack was found in the port hawse-pipe, the cause and time of which were unknown „ 30 Hertford, s.s.; 18 years.. Schooner .. 6,888 57 .. 1,939 tons general .. Leaky boiler .. .. .. Auckland .. .. .. Calm Boiler was observed to be leaking at the E.Wilson. weld; opened up and repairs completed Aug. 22 Pukeko, m.v. ; 8 years .. Schooner .. 388 15 1 170 tons general .. Struck wharf .. .. .. Tolaga Bay .. .. N.E. 5 When berthing, the vessel's anchor came in F. S. Bates. contact with a spring pile, with the result that the hawse-pipe, spurling-pipe, I I and hawse-pipe collar were broken