H.—ls.

Return of Wrecks and Casualties to Shipping reported to the Marine Department from 1st April, 1935, to 31st March, 1936—continued.

38

_ , Number of Nature of „ , Wind Date of Vessel's Name, Class, Register Number p , h nasiisltv Casualty. of Age. Tonnage. °i-Lives occurred Finding of Court of Inquiry. Name of Master. Crew. Cargo. Casualty. lost - Direction. Force. 1936. Mar. 11 Te Aroha, m.y.; 26 years Schooner .. 56 V Nil 52,500 sup. ft. timber .. Two rudder-bands carried Nil Off Ohuri Point .. W.S.W. 6 On passage from Hokitika to Wellington N. A. Olsen. awa y the vessel encountered strong winds and heavy sea, resulting in two rudder-bands „ 25 Kaiaia, m.y.; 27 years .. Ketch .. 24 5 Nil 50 tons general .. Foundered .. .. Nil Off Castle Rock, Mercury E. 6 TtooSht&tSt the vessel suddenly H. S. Aspden. sprang a leak at 4 a.m. and took water so rapidly that the pumps were unable to save her, despite desperate efforts of the crew, and she sank in two hours, becoming a complete loss; that the vessel probably struck a submerged or partly submerged log or heavy piece of timber, which stove or sprung some of her fore planks ; and that she was fully manned and equipped as required by law. The Court further found that the loss of the ship was not in any manner attributable to any wrongful act or default by or of any person or persons, and that the Master and crew behaved in every way in a proper manner under the circumstances. The Court ordered that the expenses of the witnesses at the investigation, together with a sum of £10 10s. as the solicitor's costs of the I I Master, be paid by the Minister of Marine !