NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1660, 29 January 1913, Page 6

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

■::■ •'- STRANDING OP S.S. JOHN. :; Tho.absenco of nn important'"witness made it necessary to adjourn the inquiry into tho stranding of tho steamer John, < on tho coast south of Napier,, on.December 19, .1012, ■ which W-as to.have-been held at tho Magistrate's Court last evening, '•'■ before. Dr. it' Arthur, S.M. .The assessors.', associated with the magistrate in tho caso are Captains Black and Gillespie. Mr. W. Uoso appeared for the Marino Depart-' nie-nt, Mr. S. 'Kirkcaldio for Captain ■-,'. Halm,'master of'tho John, niid Mri'H. Buddlo for Mr. 11. Roberts (chief officer)..-. When tho court nssembledi: Mr. Rose ex- ' plained that tho second officer of the, John. -". Mr. C. B. Atkinson, had not teen served with a notico to attend. •; This made, it - ! necessary,' :Mr. Rose stated; to ask for' an', adjournment,' as tho law 'directed.that'an inquiry of this character should not" 1m '■ " opened unless officers who were liablo as an outcome of the inquiry to.be penalised' ; in respect of. their, certificates-. had , been served with,notico to attend, It was further laid down that where ah oSccr had! not been gerved with notico to attendj his certificate should not in tiny, caso, lie sub-: 'pended or forfeited. .-' In thbso circumstances, Dr. M'Arthur, after conferring With counsel, decided to adjourn-! the inquiry until'" February 5, at ' 2,15 p.m.. -~.:■ ..',.., ■'■! !' >■■■'.