File:Register of Wrecks (13702829473).jpg

On 11 April 1886, 34 people died when the steamer Taiaroa struck a reef off Waipapa Point, near Kaikoura. The ship was en route from Wellington to Dunedin when it encountered rough weather. Four lifeboats were launched from the vessel, but three capsized. An inquiry into the tragedy found that the captain had failed to take sufficient action to avoid the collision.

This page is from the Register of Wrecks, 1880-1902, compiled by the Marine Department. The register lists the date of casualty; vessel name, age and class; rig; registered tonnage; number of crew and passengers; nature of cargo; casualty details; number of lives lost, place where casualty occurred; wind direction and force; and findings of the Court of Inquiry. The finding reads:

‘After the wind increased to a smart gale from S.E. at 5pm the master ought to have hauled out at least another point as the land was obscured by mist. He must have known that he was near a lee shore with thick weather, adverse current wind and sea on the weather low. As he did not alter the course he should have placed a leadsman in the chains until the weather cleared or he had ascertained his position accurately. He ought to have taken cross bearing at Cape Campbell to have ascertained the position of his vessel and his admission that he did not at anytime look at the compass to see how the ship was steered and the reason given by him for not having done so, namely that he thought it sufficient to have given the course to the Officer in charge of the watch shows a want of knowledge of his own duties and responsibilities. He ought also to have known whether there was a distress signal gun and Holmes lights on board. He never did anything whatever to prevent a full powered steamers being driven by wind and sea (indecipherable) to leeward broadside on to a beach 100 miles from the port he was bound to. His certificate was cancelled and he was ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry. Court recommended that Governor should grant him a mate’s certificate and that a masters certificate should be reissued to him at the end of two years provided he has been at teas as mate continuously in the interim.’

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Archives Reference: ABPL 7464 W5011 1/2

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