H.—lB

18

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

Date of Casualty. Name of Vessel, also Age and Class. Rig. _£ to to W Number of Nature of e of Casualty. Number — of Lives lost. Place where Casualty occurred. Wind. Decision of Court of Inquiry, &e. Name of Master. | Passenh | gers. Cargo. Direction. Force. 1890. Mar. 8 Tongariro, s.s. Barque.. 2657 General Loss of life only 1 On voyage from London to Wellington, Ushant light bearing S. by E. distant 22 miles Off coast north-west of South Island Fresh .. A saloon - passenger, General Sir Howard Elphinstonc, fell overboard at 9.25 p.m. and was drowned John Bone. „ 12 Wareatea, s.s.,7 years Schooner Coal .. Explosion of coal-gas ; no damage Calm .. Explosion of coal-gas on board George Lambert. 288 a 14 14 27 Waitoa, s.s., 7J years Birkenhead, 5J years Emilie, 15 years (Nicaraguan vessel) Cutter .. 27 55 4 3 3 Collision; partial loss Collision; slight damage Water - logged, dismasted, and stranded; total loss . Auckland Harbour About 20 miles west of Puysegur Point Slaster of " Waitoa " should have seen "Birkenhead" before he admits he did; and if after the time when he says he saw her he had kept up his speed instead of cutting off steam he would have gone clear, and acting as he did he was guilty of an error of judgment. -Master of " Birkenhead " was justified in assuming that "Waitoa" would go astern of him, but when he saw her shut off steam he should have reversed his engines instead of going slow. Slaster of " Waitoa " ordered to pay costs of inquiryVessel left Bluff for Port Pirie, South Australia, with cargo of timber, and when about 20 miles westward of Puysegur Point she was caught in a sudden gale and became waterlogged. Vessel appears to have been moderately old, but otherwise seaworthy, and was probably burst open owing to lower part of timber being improperly stowed. After becoming water-logged she fell over on broadside, when masts fell overboard, and master, second mate, and six men were drowned. Hull righted, and afterwards drifted on to Stewart Island John Carrick Hewson. Benjamin Poole. George L. Small. Barque.. 729 12 Sawn timber N.W. Fresh gah