A RIVER COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2267, 29 September 1914, Page 9

A RIVER COLLISION

THE BLENHEIM AND OPAWA MISHAP CASE BEFORE'ADMIRALTY COURT. A sitting of tlio Admiralty Court was liold in Wellington yesterday by Mr. Justice Hosking. Tuo case heard embodied a claim by the owners of the small steamer Blenheim (Johnston and Co.) against the- owner of the stdainer Opawa (Captain Eckford) for £92 15s. 10d., as damages done to the Blenheim in a collision with the Opawa, in tho Opawa River (Marlborough) on tho night of March 0. During the hearing of the case it appeared that each party alleged that the mishap was due to the other having taken tho wrong course. Mr. T. G. A. Hisloo -appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. M. Myers for tho defendants. Captain G. Wilkinson, master of the Blenheim, said in evidence that the night of tho collision was dark and stormy, with rain blowing up from tho south-east. . He kept 'his proper course, but tho Opawa crossed his track, and caused the collision. The Opawa could have waited in wide water for the Blenheim to pass. At the place of tho collision there was a width of eighty feet of water, and the two ships might have passed, but with a danger of grounding. As a fact, the Blenheim did ground after the collision, but she got off again. His vessel was 23ft. wide, and tho Opawa 16ft. Hβ tiad been working on the river for seven years, three j-ears as .a master. Henri' Fish, pilot and harbourmaster of the AVairau, stated that the rule was that an up-going vessel gave way to a down boat, and that had ho been in the position of the captain, of the Opawa ho would not have attempted to pass in the narrow water. He was father-in-law of the captain of the Blenheim. Several other witnesses were called, and the case for tho defendants was then opened by Mr. Myers, who eaid that the question . was. entirely one of fact,' and pointed out (as a. matter of •considerable importance) that two of the plaintiff's witnesses had sworn that the Blenheim went aground subsequent to going astern after the collision. Captain Walter Nicholas, the master of the Opawa, eaid in the course of his ovider.ee that ho had navigated tho river for about ten years (four or five years as a master), and that this was his first mishap. If Captain Wilkinson's evidence as to the courses of the vessels immediately before the accident were correct, both vessels would have gone ashore, but the fact was tliat they did not. William Nicholls, a fisherman, who was on the bank at the time, said that he saw the collision quite plainly, and was positive that it took place on the Opawa's side of the river. The Opawa, he said, was going up the river on the starboard side, and tho Blenheim was on tho starboard side, going down, but the Blenheim foil away to her port side, and tho collision occurred. There was room for the steamers to pass. Ho had seen vessels pass there. Shortly after 5 p.m. tho, Court adjourned till 10.30 this morning.