THE TYRONE FINDING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1880, 14 October 1913, Page 7

THE TYRONE FINDING.

NO ONE TO BLAME.

CURRENT CAUSED OVER-RUNNING,

(By Telecranli.—Press Association.) □uncdin, Octobor 13 Decision was delivered to-day by the Nautical Court in regard to tho wrcck of tho Tyrone which was lost by overrunning her course, and going ashore, on September 27, oil Wnhino Point, • some distance south of tho point which her commander designod to make, vin.. Taiaroa Heads, which mark tho entrance to Otago Harbour. Tho president' of tho Court was Mr. H. Y. Widdoweon, fe.M., and tho assessors were Captains Sundstrum and Hunter. The. questions which Uho Court ilad to dooido wore whether or not tho wreck was caused by tho careless navigation of tho master (Captain M'Lauchlan), (a) in not o'harting tho proper distance from Akaroa light, to Taiaroa Head light; (b). in not taking soundings to verity tho vessel's position on tho chart and reducing the vessel's speed when within tho radius of Taiaroa Head light; (c) in not taking soundings and. turning the vps-,, sel's head to sot when lie heard tho first'fog signals. In respect to the second officer (Gladwin Perry) was it not tho duty of tho second officer to find out, when taking over tho navigation of the ship, (a) the distance which tho ship had run from Akaroa light; (b) tho dis-, tanco which tho ship hud to run to' reach Taiaroa Head. j Finding on Captain. The Court unanimously find generally that the casualty was not caused by tho careless navigation of the master on any. of tho grounds liientioncd in tho questions submitted to tho Court and, spccificially, in answer to tho quostions (a)" and (b) tho Court unanimously find (1) that, although tho master did not chart, tho distance from Akaroa light to Taiaroa Head light he laid down the ship's course, and the second officer ascertained tho position of tho ship by bearings off Moeraki light and tools tlio log. 'llieso were reported to the master, and the latter, on taking chargo at 2 am., took tho report of tho second officer, observed tho log, and charted tho distance to Taiaroa Heads. (2) That there beiug no fog, and the master being able to see an alleged safe distance, and having had the position of thfc ship fixed bv bearings when off Moeraki light, and having charted tho distance to Taiaroa, Head ho was 'justified in proceeding on liis course without taking soundings or reducing speed, and by a. majority (Captain Sundstrum dissenting) tho Court find, in answer to . (c), that when the first fog signal was heard at .Taiaroa; Heads tho master had reasonable ground for considering himself safe,_ and hauling into his : ancliorago, and iii the circumstances, there was no necessity to take soundings, or to turn out to sea. Tho vessel's speed was accelerated considerably beyond that registered by tho log by an unusual and strong current setting down to tho south, and which, witlij the deceptiveness of tho conditions over land, was, in tho opinion of tho majority of tho Court, tho causo of tho disaster. Captain Sundstrum finds, iu answer to (c),' that an unusual and strong current was'the primary cause of tho disaster, but that tho master would have displayed more judgment had ho immediately stopped _ tlio ship and taken soundings oil hearing tho first fog signal, and tho fact of his not having picked up Ta iaroa light, while ho oould hear the fog ■ signals from tho shore, should hpyo, warned him of danger. As, however," the ovidonco points mainly to' an error of judgment, ho (Captain Sundstrum) agices that tlio Court should refrain from dealing with his certificate, a recommendation will be made to tho Ministers (1) That it is desirable thai a white light of some kind should bo substituted for the red light at present operating at Taiaroa Head as the former has more penetrating power in fogR.V weather, and (2) that a more rapid_ system of fog signals should bo substituted for that now in use ut tli'o ' Heads, six minutes' intervals being too long. . , Finding on Second Officer. . . With, regard to the second "officer tlio president, after reviewing tho evidence, said that it had been proved that, when ho took charge of tho ship at midnight ho did' all that reasonably an officer could bo expected to do.. The manner in which tho captain, second offlcor, and other witnesses gave their evidence was favourably commented op. Two guineas costs wero allowed Mr. Hanlon, tho second officer's counsel, it being understood that tho ordinary witnesses' expenses would also be paid by tho Crown. ' .