JANE DOUGLAS ENQUIRY ENDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1339, 17 January 1912, Page 4

JANE DOUGLAS ENQUIRY ENDS.

9 CAPTAIN TO PAY COSTS. {By Telcffr&Dh.—Fres»s Association.! Nelson, January lfi. When the inquiry into the wreck of the . Jone Douglas was resumed to-day, the ' president of the Court announced that he ! had received'a letter from Brown, a seaman, desiring that certain questions should bo asked. I Brown, in tho course of evidence, said ! that he could not swear that tho captnin was under the influence of liquor on Ihe , night of. the wreck, but liquor was carried . on board. Ingram, tho mate, and Young, a fireI mail, were then called, and stated that ; there were no signs of liquor on the . captain. No one on board was under the influence of liquor. The Court, found that t.ho night was sufficiently clear' for the land' to be seen, and that there was no rip or current to set the vessel out of her course. Tho spray was not sufficient to hide the rock, and there was not sufficient wind to.put the vessel out of her course. The steamer left port well found, and everyone on board was sober and fit for'duty. On tho facts, the Court could not ascribe the wreck to "inevitable accident," or even to an error of judgment. It considered that Captain Vendoro did not use such vigilance as was reasonably expected of ; him, but did not render himself so cul- • pably negligent as to warrant tho susprn- • sion of his certificate. He would lie , ordered to pay tho costs of tho inquiry : totalling JC24 13s.