The Maitai Wreck.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 310, 11 June 1889, Page 4

The Maitai Wreck.

OFFICIAL ENQUIRY. Auckland, Thursday. An official inquiry into the circumstances of the loss of the steamer Maitai, on Sunday morning last, was held at the R.M. Courtroom yesterday afternoon. Mr T. Hill, Collector of Customs, conducted a preliminary inquiry yesterday morning, and he then recommended an official investigation, wnich was accordingly begun in the afternoon, before Dr. Giles, R.M.,and Captain Frater, Nautical Asssessors. Mr H. Williamson appeared on behalf of the Collector of Customs. Captain Dawson, of the wrecked steamer, was present, but was not represented by counsel. Mr Williamson, in opening the proceedings, said that no charge of negligence or want of skill was made against the officers of the vessel. William Darling Dawson, deposed, at the time of the casualty the weather was squally, and the wind from the north-east. The value of the ship was £lO,OOO, but he did not know the value of the cargo, nor what it was insured for, nor the amount of the insurances upon the ship. The Maitai left Oreti Point at 5.80 p.m. on Saturday, and the vessel was then bound direct for Auckland. Witness shaped a course for Cuvier Island, the direction being W. by N. f N. He had often steered the same course. The wind when he left Oreti Point was about east, and the weather was gloomy. He expected to reach the Red Mercury Island about five o’clock next morning. Witness left the deck between eight and nine o’clock, and the second officer, Charles Ansell, then took charge. Witness left the order-book, entering the second officer’s instructions in it, in the usual way. During the night the wind and sea grew heavier, and as the morning came on rain squalls set in, and the wind was then northward of east, and on the’ quarter, fair. He assumed charge at four o'clock in the morning, and the wind was then N.E. by E. The vessel had been carrying a foresail nearly all night, but shortly after he came'on deck he ordered the sail to be taken in, as he wished to have a clear view when the Mercuries were sighted. At a few minutes past five, they saw the Red Mercury Island, W.8.W., or about four points on the port bow. This was the outer island of the Mercury Group, and he had to pass it when heading tor Cuvier Island. When he was sure that it was the land he saw, he ported the helm, bringing theshipfromW.N.W. to a N.E. course, and lessened the speed to half. Richard's Rock was then a little to the north-west. He brought the ship right round, with her stern nearly on to the island, which was then two points on the port quarter. The course he then took was nearly at right angles to the one which he had been steering, but he did not think he had gone too far on the first course. He followed the N.E. course till six o’clock, when he changed it to N. W., with the island abeam. He reckoned that the island

was then about four miles off; he arrived at this estimate by calculating the time at which the ship had been going N.E. The steamer was put full speed when she started on the N.W. course; she had gone half speed whilst in the north-easterly direction, as there was a head sea. fie kept the island abeam until the steamer’s head was W. by N. As soon as she was W. by N. she struck on a rock, it being then twenty minutes past six. He had no means of taking the bearings of the rock, and Bichard’s Rock, as marked on the chart, was a long way further in than where the Maitai struck. He did not see how he could get there with the course he was steering. Richard’s Bock was from one to two miles further northward; he knew he was a good four miles away from the island. Witness marked on a chart the position of the rock on which the Maitai struck ; it was in a N.E. direction. The vessel struck with a severe shock. There was a good look-out on board at the time, and there was no indication of broken water. The vessel was drawing about six feet forward and ten feet aft. She struck just abaft the foremast. Heat once stopped the engines. The ship went straight ahead after striking, and never struck aft. Almost as soon as he stopped the engines the vessel was clear of the rock, and he then started her full speed for the beach. He instructed the first officer to call all hands and have the wells sounded. This was done, and it was reported that the . steamer was making water fast forward. As she wenc on, witness saw that she was settling down, and he sent the men to get the boats out and put the passengers into them. There were two boats ; this was all that the ship was required tocarry. There was a large life ooat and a surf boat. They were in the chucks, and the surfboat had been used the night before, whilst boat had been inspected at Wellington. The surf boot was launched successfully, and ho gave orders for the lady passengers to be put into the boat. There were two lady paasengei.a aud a girl of twelve and there was also the stewardess, but one of the ladies did not go into the boat. There were seventeen in the surf boat, which was iu charge of the uecoud officer. He took the wheel an.d brought the vessel round to have tb- a life-boat on the lee side, but m lav.nohiag the boat the toreeabm steward, George Archer, fell overboard Be (witness,) went to look tor an old lady who was on board, and ?? 0 ’kerned paralysed. He wanted the lady to jump to save herself, but she would not, and the chief engineer then took the painter of the i utn p with J.®, 0 l captain) jumped With the lady, and they were followed by the Chief engineer who wae the last to leave, when witness got into the boat there were only eigh:t or ten feet of the quarter ,of the steamer above water. They did all they could to induce the purser to jumj > from the steamer, but he would no tdo so, and went down with the steax "er. Those in the boats then polled to Mercury harbour. He believed that Richard's Rock was from three to f< jur miles from where the Maitai struc’x. According to the chart, even if the ship was right on to the laud, eh b should have i

got clear of Bichard’s Bock, keeping the course upon which she was then going. The chart marked Bichard’s Bock “ uncovered at low spring tides,” but he had passed it many times, and had not seen it uncovered ; he had, however, seen the water breaking over it more than once. If he had kept the N.W. course he would have gone clear of Cuvier Island, and up to the Great Barrier. He did not think he he kept too far around near the island. He steered by two good compasses. By Dr Giles : In witness’ opinion the rock on which the Maitai struck was not marked on the chart. He had been told by old traders that there was any amount of rocks in the Bay of Plenty that were not marked on the chart. Mr Williamson :In his opinion he had allowed sufficiently for the wind and sea in steering abeam of the island.

J. C. Gifford, chief engineer, deposed that when he came on deck, the steamer was heading for the land and going fine, and he wondered what was the matter with her. After the surf boat was launched, he was speaking to the purser, who did not seem much put about. The purser would not jump, and first asked them to pull in the boat. The boat could not be pulled in, and witness told him to jump and they would pick him up. The captain came from aft with an old lady, and asked witness to jump, but he replied that he would be all right, and advised the captain to jump with the lady, which he did. Witness spoke to the purser, but the mate was shouting to them to jump, and the seas were then dashing over the bridge, and witness decided to jump, as he could wait no longer for the purser to go. Before he left the steamer, however, he gave the purser the end of the painter, and he could have jumped after witness if he had chosen, and would have been rescued and taken into the boat. When he (the chief engineer) got into the boat, only the after part of the Maitai could be seen, the bridge and everything else was under water.

Mr Williamson said he had no other evidence except that of the chart, but the witnesses had stated that the chart was incorrect, and he was therefore placed in a difficult position. Either the chart was wrong or the captain had made a serious mistake. Of course if the chart was wrong, the officers of the ship were not so blameworthy. After their Worships had retired Dr Giles said they must leave it to Mr Williamson to say whether the evidence was closed or not.

Mr Williamson, after consulting with Mr Hill (Collector of Customs), said he would decide to let the evidence stand as it was. He then briefly addressed the Court, urging that the captain was at fault in not taking steps to ascertain his position. His belief was that the chart was correct, probably, and that the captain misjudged his position. There was only the hypothesis that the pinnacle of a rock was sticking up, and that no vessel had ever previously touched upon it. He considered, however, that this was improbable, as the coast was frequently travelled over, and was well known. Dr. Giles said that the Court would give their decision on Saturday next at noon.