462
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
vessel at Nelson, on the 14th inst., leaving on the vessel went on shore, when he was called
board a Quadrant and his Certificates.
to tea.
F. HANSEN.

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 Mel-
bourne 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 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

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 ground-
ing on Pig Island, on the 31st July last. She
was then going about nine knots per hour
(36 or 38 revolutions), three quarter speed.
I have since examined the engines and am of
opinion that they have not sustained any
injury. The second engineer, who was in
charge of the engines at the time, has left the
vessel. He was in no way to blame, having
obeyed the orders given to him.

RANDLE BOARDMAN.

Declared before me at
Wellington, 24th Aug.,
1863.
CHARLES SHARP,
M.W.C.M.B., J.P.

Nelson, 1st September, 1863.
SIR,-In my opinion the "Lady Bird," on
her passage from Port Chalmers to Dunedin,
on the 24th July, grounded in consequence of
having left the former place after dark, and
without the assistance of a Pilot.
The Captain's evidence states the Channel
to be insufficiently buoyed, rocky, and that
the lead would be little or no guide to steam-
vessels. I am, therefore, further of opinion,
that the vessel should not have left Port
Chalmers after dark, and that the Captain is
alone blameable for the accident; he also
should have reported the circumstances to the
Marine Board there. The fact of the vessel
having run on rocks at the rate of four knots
with tide, is of sufficient importance to do so.

R. JOHNSON,
Inspector of Steamers.

To Captain Sharp,
President of
Marine Board.

Evidence of Frederick Renner, Master of the
"Lady Bird," relative to that Vessel grounding
near Port Chalmers.

Present:
Captains SHARP and JOHNSON, President
and Members of Marine Board.

Frederick Renner states:-On the 24th
July, on the passage from Port Chalmers to
Dunedin, at 8.30 p.m., the vessel grounded
on a hard bottom, going at the rate of four
knots per hour, drawing nine feet of water
aft. Had seven and a half feet of least water
alongside. An anchor was taken ahead, and