THE KANGAROO ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1268, 31 May 1884, Page 2

THE KANGAROO ENQUIRY.

At the inquiry’ into'the''lbse of the steamer Kangaroo at Wellington yesterday, Mr Shaw, Captain Dyball’s counsel, explained that two witnesses 4i« intended • to call for the defence oeuld not give evidence because they were not in town. Counsel then proceeded to address the > Court on the evidence already given. He contended that the Crown had failed to i prove that his client was blameworthy, no evidence .having been brought to show ' that tho vessel was out of her oourso, and that she had struck on the reef marked on «he chart. Mr Izsrd, in reply, submitted that he had adduced evidence ‘ sufficient to make out a case against tho captain of tho steamer.. He contended that the p-esent position of the vessel went to prove thst at the time she struck she was not on the coarse laid down on the chart. The learned gentleman pointed out that the masters of vessels frequently expose their craft to danger by “ catting corners ” in their desire -to make good passages, and said there was no doubt the accident to the Kengaroo was due to that circumstance. He submitted tho Crown had proved negligence on the part of the' captain. The enquiry* was adjourned until noon to-day. j (BT JTEIEGR S.PH y HiujkgaON, To-day. In the Nautical Odurt'M-djff" i adgment was delivered in the enquiry into tho foundering of the steamer Kangaroo Tho Court found that the steamSr »as much nearer to the shore when she struck than stated by Captain Dyball,' aud theif opinion was formed by the course steered after striking, and also that the ateamer is not f irthar out than when she struck. 1 The Court, find that the Kangaroo struck on Bowler’s reef, and that the evidence had entirely failed to show any existence of danger off Cape Campbell which was not marked on theAdmiraltyobart. They held Captain Dyball to be responsible for the accident by taking the steamer too close to the shore, and. they suspended his certificate for three months, and. ordered him to pay the costs of the enquiry.