INQUIRY CONCLUDES

Chronicle (Levin), 27 February 1947, Page 5

INQUIRY CONCLUDES

-Press Association

Findings on Wanganella Expected Tomorrow

A11 Telearanh—

WELLINGTON, Thursday. Highest praise for the conduct of the master, Captain Darroch, officers and crew of the Wanganv ella, after the ship stranded 011 Barrett's Reef, was expressed by ohe Court of Inquiry before it retired today to consider its finding after Dr". T. A. Foden had concluded his address. "The purpose of the legislation on which this inquiry is based is the safety of life. and shipping," said Dr. Foden at the opening of his address today. "In the history of New Zealand shipping this must '-ank as a major casualty in view of '.he jeopardy in which the lives of so many of the passengers and crew were placed for a few critical moments. The evidenee amply disclosed the answer to the first question before the court as to its cause. Continuing, Dr. Foden said that ' he Marine Suoerintendent had 'ormed the opinion, on the evidenee, that the officers and crew were in no way responsible for the mishap and, there had been no contribution 'to the casualty by the owners. However, he concluded hat the ship's master had failed '0 navigate with due care when entering the port. It was with the greatesfc regret that such a conclu"ioh was arrived at, said Dr. Foden, and he hoped the court would have regard • to Captain Darroch's dis - 'inguished career and unblemish~d record when arriving at their fnding. The standard of navigation for which British mariners were justifiablv proud must be vnaintained. Counsel submitted 'hat the master had failed to "efresh his memory adequately as ' o the charact.er and period of the navigation lights at the harbonr uitra.nce. The difference between 'he lights was such that failure to them correctly was 110 justified. * F^den said that the a.nswerc to auestions two and three must b? in the negative. Dealing with Capt'ain Darroch's evidenee, counsel submitted it had not been show.o smoke or haze co^tituted th reason for failure to navigate "afely. The lights at Petone wer° not of sufficient ' significance to •xcuse confusion with naviaG^ lights. As to compass deviation, the evidenee bv others had been sucii as to enable the court to assess its value. The court could also lQ.tr.rmine the significance on th Mleged irregularities in periodicity of the lights. It was suomitted that the difference • between the Cook Strait and Port Nicholson charts was not a hindrance to safe navigation, nor did the Suoerintendent of Marine consider it was justified in view ofTtie commenda- ' the Buovs' " Iilstitutien and by other mariners.' The chairman of the Court, Mr A. M. Goulding, S.M., first said tha" he question 011 the cause of th'. casualty could be reserved. On consideration of the second question, the court could immediately absolve the other officers and crew from anv bla'me whatsoever as contributory to the mishap. Tfte company was also absolvea entireiy from blame and the officers' certificates would be returned forthwith. The assessors wished to join with him in expressing the highest praise possible for the conduct of the master, officers and crew of the vessel, not only immediately after the stranding but right up to the time the Wanganella came off the reef. The court expects to present it? finding tomorrow at the latest. The question of costs was reserved. [Earlier reports of the inquiry appear on page 6 of this issuej