LOSS OF THE MAORI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2623, 4 October 1909, Page 7

LOSS OF THE MAORI.

FINDING OF THE MARINE COURT

The necessity for a lighthouse at Dui'ker Point was emphasised at the inquiry into the loss of the steamer Maori, on the South African Coast. The Court’s finding was as follows: — “The Maori left Table Bay on Wednesday, August 4, at 11.40 0.m., for Dunedin, and she struck at or near Duiker Point, 11 miles distant from Table Bay Breakwater, and became a total wreck, attended by considerable loss of life—of a crew of 53, all told, 32 are now missing, including the master, and all the navigating officers except the chief officer. The ship appears to have been well found,- and the compass had been regularly tested. “The evidence before the Court as to the stranding of the vessel is of a very meagre description. The man who was at the wheel is, as far as is the only survivor of those on deck at the time of the casuality, and while we are satisfied as to his bona fides, we think he may be mistaken as to the precise time at which the course was altered. All the ship’s papers and log-books were lost, and his is the only evidence evailable as to the course steered from midnight, and from the times that the watches were set, and there is no evidence as to the courses steered before that time, which would have been various after leaving Table Bay until rounding Green Point. Projecting the courses from this evidence from the danger angle point of view, and having regard for the time that the ship left Table Bay to the time that she is alleged to have struck, we' find that she would, but for the set hereafter referred to, have passed two miles clear of all danger; and, taking into consideration the ordinary practice of navigators, she would have been at least three miles outside this danger angle; that is, under normal conditions, but with those obtaining at this time the probability would he that she would have been still further out. “We find upon such evidence as we have before us, that probably the cause of stranding was the abnormal set, retarding the ship’s speed and setting her towards the land. The navigating officers on account of their not Being able to see Green Point light or Robben Island light astern, or the land, would have no knowledge of this set. Therefore, ux>on the evidence before us we are of opinion that no blame. should be attached to the master or navigating officers. , . , , “We believe that after the ship struck those on the ship did everything they thought possible to save life; and as regards the evidence of the eor, we -would say that we think that it was quite possible that when the ship was grinding on the rocks the engine telegraph may have become out of order. and that the orders from the bridge could not have been conveyed to the engineers hv telegraph. Although the telegraph, handle may have worked on the bridge, the wires underneath might have been broken. “The Court desires to impress upon the authorities the urgent necessity tor the erection, of a lighthouse and fog st-tion at or near the nlace in qnostum, ■•Mid to exnress the strong and Vatic opinion that had these been m existence, this wreck, and others, uould

probably not have occurred. The nearest fog station is at Robb£n Island, and to Cap© Point there are 30 miles of dangerous coast-line frequently covered in by mist or fdg.”