TONGARIRO WRECK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2883, 22 September 1916, Page 6

TONGARIRO WRECK

TWO SUSPENSIONS

THE MASTER AND THE CHIEF-OFFICER

Yesterday morning tho Court which has inquired into tho subject of tho wreck of ,tho Tonganro announced that, it had suspended tho certificate of the master of tho vessel (Harry Makcpoace) for six months, and the certificate of Chief-officer Ballard for throe months. Tho Court consisted of Mr. W. G. Riddoll, S.M. (President), Captains Johnson and Reid. Tho Marino Department was represented by Mr. V. R. Meredith, the Now Zealand Shipping Company by Mr. M. Myers, Captain Makepeace (master of tho vessel) by Mr. A. Gray, K.C., and Chief-Officer Ballard by Mr. H. Buddie. The questions set. .tho Court wore: (1) "What was 'the eauso of tho wreck ? (?) 'Whether tlio wreck of Cue ship was caused by or contributed to by a wrongful .act or default of Harry Makepeace, tho master, cr any of his officers, or crew? 1 Chief-Officer Primarily Blamable. "The finding of tho Court," said Mr. Riddoll, "is as follows: — j '■Tho wreck of tho s.s. Tougariro on August 30,-1916, was duo to .the vos : sel's striking Bull Rook, near Portland Island, while on a voyage from Auokland to "\Veflington. 1 "From tho evidence submitted, the Court finds Vhat iiio wreck of tli,o vessel was primarily caused _by the default of Percy 'John Ballajd, in faiiing to take the ordinary precau-' tion of verifying tho position of ibe vessel when off Tablo Capo. Had ihis been done, ttie disaster would not have occurred. "Tlio Court also finds that under the fine weather conditions then prevailing, with a calm sea and land marks visible through the day, the courso set by tho master, Harry Makepeace, from Gabje End foreland to pass Bull Rook two miles to tho eastward was a safe one if tho vossel'a position had been ascertained at Tablo Capo by crossbearings; that, considering the master was responsible for the safe navigation of the vessel, with his knowledgo of tho coastline and lights, and iho danger of approaching and passing Bull Rock in the darkness, together with the fact that his chief-offiper was a stranger to the coast ( a duty lay upon Inm to ascertain with some certainty, after passing Tablo Cape, whether the vessel was On the course laid off; that in only making a general inquiry from tho chief-officer' at 6.45 p.m. as to tho vessel's position, ho- failed to dischargo that duly, and thus contributed to the loss of tlio vessel. Six Months, Thres Months, and Costs. "The Court also' finds that neither tlio master nor tlio chief-officer can fix with any certainty tho time when the vessel was off Tablo. Cape'; that'the set toward tho south-west, of which evidence was given, tended to slightly accelerate the speed of the Vessel, and take her off -her course to the westward, but not to sueh an extent as could not have been corrected if tho ordinary precaution had been followed, of taking a bearing from tho Portland Island light within a reasonable time after passing Table Cape to ascertain whether the vessel was on her courso. "The Court finds that none of the other officers or crew of the vessel contributed in any way to her loss. "The decision of the Court is: That tho default of both the master and the chief-officer contributed to the wrcok of the vessel, 1 and tho certificate of the master will bo suspended for a period of , six months, and that of tho chief- j officer for a period of three months. | "They will also be ordered to pay half the costs of this inquiry in the following ' proportions:—The master two-thirds of such halfcost, and tile chief-officer one-tliird of.suoh half-cost." ■ . ■ . Ballard Given a Mate's Certificate Temporarily. _ Mr. Buddie: As to the chiof officer's' suspension, I wish to direct the Court's attention to the fact that he has been in receipt of only ,a small salary, and is in an tinfinancial position. The effeet of the Court's decision is to de-( prive_ him of his means of livelihood, and it certainly seems hard that he should be asked to pay a share of the; costs. I would ask the Court to be' good enough to try to see its way to reconsider that part of the judgment, and to reckon that he will ho sufficiently punished by his period of pension, which mil result in deprivation of liis means of earning a living. Mr. Gray: Tho same thing applies with oven greater force to the captain. He is suspended for a longer period, and has to pay a .larger share of the costs. t Mr. Riddoll: The Court proposes to ascertain what tho costs are, "and if after that an application is made either for a reduction or,a waiver tho Court will consider it. , . Mr. Buddie: Would the. Court bo willing to grant the chief officer during his period _of suspension a mate's certificate? P believe that that lias been done in other instances. And I direct tho Court's attention to the, fact that at the present time the shipping, companies are extremely short of officers. 'Tlio courso I suggest would not only be of assistance to the chief officor, but would be of value to tho. shipping companies. Mr., Riddoll: Tho Court aro agreeable to that course—that the chief of-ficer-bo allowed a mate's certificate during his suspension. Mr. Buddie: I thank, the Court for its considerateness. Allocation of Costs Questioned. Mr. Gray: I wish to correct one error in Your Worship's judgment. I refer to tho judgment's statement that the chiof officer was a stranger to the coast. That is not so. It -was his first voyage, with this captain, hut not his first over tho course.' Mr. Buddie: Tho chiof officer has been over tho course only four times in the last seven years. Mr. Riiddell: Very well. That reference can 110 excised' from tho decision, and it will mako 110 differenco. Seeing that it is an orror, I am prepared to oxciso it. Mr. Meredith: Will Your Worship assess tho costs now? i. Mr. Riddoll. said that, the costs would he fixed by tho Clerk of the Court, and the matter could bo mentioned again, if necessary, in the afternoon. When the matter was re-opened, tho master was ordered to pay £10 and tho chief officer £3 towards the cost of the inquiry.