Evidence of Frederick Renner, Master of the Steam-vessel "Lady Bird," relative to that vessel grounding on Pig Island, Queen Charlotte’s Sound.

Present:

Captain SHARP and Captain JOHNSON, President and Warden, Chief Marine Board.

On the 31st of July, 6.45 p.m., the vessel grounded on a spit composed of sand and boulder stone extending off the West point of Pig Island, about half a cable’s length. At this time the Chief Officer was in charge of the deck. I had quitted the deck from twenty minutes to half-an-hour, and had given instructions to keep the vessel in mid-channel, and to call me before reaching Jackson’s Head. It was a clear night and all parts of the land perfectly visible. Mr. George White, Chief Officer, came to this Colony in that capacity about four months since, and has a Master’s Certificate, No. 22,366. Has passed through the Sound at least half-a-dozen times, and has had the dangers pointed out to him by me. He has my Certificate of sobriety and good conduct. The Channel between Pig Island and the Main is about one and a quarter miles wide. The Reef is steep too. The vessel grounded about fifteen yards from the shore, going at full speed, about nine knots per hour—drawing six and a half feet forward and nine feet aft. From the main chains forward the vessel was aground, having four feet under the bows, six feet amidships, and two and a half feet under the stern. The shock was not sudden or severe, rather a grating sensation. The engines were immediately stopped, and finding the vessel could not be easily taken off, trimmed the vessel by moving chain cable aft and starting the water forward, ran out a stream anchor and warp astern, hove tight; the tide flowing at high water at about nine o’clock p.m.; the vessel, by means of steam and warp, was got afloat. All the compartments were sounded; found the vessel did not leak. The water was quite smooth at the time. I am in the habit of leaving the deck in charge of the Chief Officer when the weather is clear. On this occasion I had to call at Forsyth Island, and go through French Pass, and was to relieve the deck before the vessel reached Jackson’s Head, a distance of about ten miles from Pig Island, from which time I should be required on deck all night. The water is too deep in the Sound for the lead to be of any use. On arriving at Nelson on the following day, the vessel was laid on the hard and partially examined, after which she proceeded on her voyage to Manukau. To the present date, 24th August, no additional leak has been perceptible. The Chief Officer, Mr. George White, was quite sober when left in charge of the deck. He has since deserted from the vessel at Nelson, on the 14th inst., leaving on board a Quadrant and his Certificates.

FREDERICK RENNER,
Master, s.s. “Lady Bird.”

Declared before me this
24th day of August,
1863, at Wellington.

CHARLES SHARP,
M.W.C.M.B., J.P.

William Seymour, formerly Second Officer, now Chief, of the “Lady Bird”—has a Second Officer’s Certificate from the Board of Trade. Joined the “Lady Bird” at Melbourne in March last; Mr. White, late Chief Officer, joined two days after me. Remember the vessel running aground on Pig Island on the 31st July. Mr. White was then in charge of the deck. He was perfectly sober at the time, and was generally of temperate habits. When the vessel run aground I was in the cabin at tea. I knew she had taken the ground from feeling a harsh grating sound, but there was no sudden shock. The night was quite clear and the land perfectly visible. I do not think the vessel could have gone on shore had ordinary attention been paid by the officer in charge of the deck. Mr. White was on top of the round house directing the steering of the vessel. We were about half a ship’s length from the shore. At this part of the Sound the Channel is about one and a quarter miles wide. I have been left in charge of the deck when the Chief Officer was at his meals, and felt myself quite competent to conduct the vessel through any of the passages in Queen Charlotte’s Sound. I do not know why Mr. White left the vessel; he said nothing to me upon the subject.

WILLIAM SEYMOUR,
Chief Officer.

Declared before me this
24th day of August,
1863, at Wellington.

CHARLES SHARP,
M.W.C.M.B., J.P.

Frederick Hanson, A.B., steam ship “Lady Bird”—Remember being at the wheel steering the vessel when she grounded on Pig Island, on the 31st July last. I obeyed the instructions of the officer in charge of the deck. The last orders I received were from Mr. Seymour to steer “Steady so,” about fifteen minutes before the vessel went on shore. Mr. White, Chief Officer, then took charge of the deck. I heard the Captain give him instructions to keep the vessel in mid-channel when I relieved the wheel at six o’clock. When Mr. White came on deck after having had his tea, he went on the round house and talked to the passengers, but gave no orders about steering the vessel’s course—I was steering by a star. I saw the Captain on deck about half an hour before the vessel went on shore, when he was called to tea.

F. HANSON.

Declared before me this
24th day of August,
1863, at Wellington.

CHARLES SHARP,
M.W.C.M.B., J.P.

Randle Boardman, Chief Engineer, s.s. “Lady Bird.”—Remember the vessel grounding on Pig Island, on the 31st July last. She