THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 947

by Lowther Broad, Esq., Resident Magistrate, assisted
by Captain Johnson, Nautical Assessor, into the wreck
of the barque "Queen Bee," registered tonnage 726,
official number 43129, John Sayes Davies, master,
holding a Board of Trade certificate of competency
No. 98698; Matthew Nesham Baillie, first mate,
holding a Board of Trade certificate of competency
as master No. 20196; and John Ernest Going,
second mate, holding a Board of Trade certificate of
competency as first mate No. 21519.
GEO. MCLEAN.

BARQUE "QUEEN BEE."

NOTHING of any importance appears to have occurred
on the voyage to Nelson until after passing Cape
Farewell, except that the compasses did not work
well. It seems, however, that no azimuths or ampli-
tudes were taken to ascertain the error. On Mon-
day, the 6th of August, the vessel opened Cape Fare-
well Sandspit light about 8 o'clock p.m., and from
this time up to 10 o'clock the courses appear to have
been from N.E. by E. to S.E. by E. The wind at the
time was fair, about West, the vessel was going about
seven knots, with all square sails set, and the night
was fairly clear. The loom of the land over the spit
could be seen, but the spit itself and the surf could
not, although the latter was heard all the way along.
There is a discrepancy in the evidence as to the course
steered from 10 to 11, but it seems most likely
the vessel had made more southing than the captain
and chief mate thought, bringing the vessel closer
in shore than was estimated. At 11 o'clock the
bearing of the light was taken by the master and
chief mate, and was estimated to bear W. by S. seven
miles; but it is now evident the vessel could not
have been in that position. The captain then put
the vessel on a S.S.E. course. The evidence differs
as to the course given, but I think the weight of
testimony proves it was S.S.E. and not S.S.E. E.
Had the lead been cast at this time, it would have
been found that the ship was not in the position
assigned by the master and mate. But, as a matter
of fact, the lead from first to last was not used at all.
And I am of opinion that it was an extraordinary
neglect of duty to omit taking soundings to verify
the ship's position when sailing round a dangerous
spit, with a compass which was believed to be unre-
liable, and upon which the master ought not, therefore,
to have exclusively depended. The vessel was kept
upon a S.S.E. course until she grounded on the spit
end at about half-past 11 to a quarter to 12 o'clock
p.m. Before grounding, surf had been seen on the star-
board bow in the distance by a man aloft (that was
about ten minutes before she struck), who also came
down and saw it from the deck, but did not report it.
It was also seen some minutes, by the second mate
and one of the passengers, from the poop. All these
witnesses estimated it to be from four to five miles
away, but it is evident they must have misjudged the
distance, as there could not be any surf four miles
beyond the spit. Had the helm been put hard up by
the second mate, J. E. Going, who was the officer of
the watch when these breakers were first seen, pos-
sibly the vessel would have been saved. Every effort
appears to have been made to get the vessel off,
without success, as within a short time she filled
with water. The only bearing taken was at 11
o'clock p.m., before changing to the last course. Had
the bearings of the light been taken at 8 o'clock on
first observing it, and again on entering the red light,
the error in the compass on the points the ship was
heading at both those times might have been dis-
covered. The explanation offered, that the compass
was always wrong on a S.S.E. course, was a strong
reason why the captain should have remained on deck,

and not have placed his confidence in a compass he
believed unreliable. The master is responsible for
the navigation of the ship, and is therefore pri-
marily responsible for her loss. It is clear he was in
ignorance of his true position, and he did not use
proper and sufficient means to ascertain it. In this
he was guilty of grave default. The chief mate con-
curred with the master in all that he did; and the
master appears to have depended on him a good deal
on account of his previous knowledge of the locality:
he erred as much as the master in judgment, but the
latter is responsible for what was done. The look-
out was not well kept; and it was the duty of the
second mate, who was the officer of the watch, to see
to this. In the loading of the boats, I think the
master erred in not so disposing of the passengers in
each as to avoid the necessity of transhipping from
one boat to another. A full complement of oars
might also have been put in each boat in the first
instance; otherwise, as I believe the master contem-
plated the return of the boats to the ship, I do not
attach any other special blame to him. But in this,
as in some other matters, the master appears to have
intended to do what was right, but, apparently, inde-
cision of character caused his good intentions to re-
main unfulfilled. The Nautical Assessor has signi-
fied to me his entire concurrence in the foregoing
report.

I decide that the ship was lost through the default
of the master, John Sayes Davies, who holds a master's
certificate of competency from the Board of Trade,
numbered 98698; and I decide that the certificate of
the said John Sayes Davies be suspended for three
years from this day. And as I am further of opinion
that there was default, contributing to the loss, on
the part of John Ernest Going, who holds a mate's
certificate from the Board of Trade, but which was
lost in the wreck, I decide that the certificate of the
said John Ernest Going be suspended for six months
from this day's date. The chief mate, although in as
grave error as the captain as to the navigation of the
ship, was not responsible, as he was really acting
under the the captain's orders. I cannot, therefore,
suspend his certificate.

Given under my hand at Nelson, this 22nd
day of August, 1877.

LOWTHER BROAD,
Resident Magistrate.

I, Robert Johnson, Nautical Assessor on the in-
quiry into the loss of the British barque "Queen
Bee," concur in the above report concerning the loss.

ROBERT JOHNSON,
Nautical Assessor.

Draughtsman appointed.

General Survey Office,
Wellington, 12th September, 1877.

H Excellency the Governor in Council has been
pleased to appoint

JOHN WILLIAM ROCK

D. REID,
Secretary for Crown Lands.

Appointing Deputy Registrar of Cattle and Sheep
Brands.

General Crown Lands Office,
Wellington, 19th September, 1877.

H IS Excellency the Governor has been pleased
to appoint

Mr. JOHN BLACK