ARAHURA COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3028, 15 March 1917, Page 7

ARAHURA COLLISION

NAUTICAL INQUIRY OPENED . EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN By Telegraph— Press Association. Auckland, March 14. A nautical inquiry concerning the collision-botweoii tho steamer Arahura and a Homo liner at Gisborno opened to-day before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., and Captains M'Kcnzic and lieed. Captain Goddard, master of tlio Homo linor, in liis evidence, said tlmt his vessel was at anchor until iust before tlio collision. The third officer reported that tlicro was a heavy strain on tho chain. Witness found that this was so, and noted that the riding light was burning brightly. All tho lights were burning. They commenced . to heavo on tho anchor at 10.50 p.m., and at 10.59 the anchor was up. The vessel went slowly astern. She had 110 way on. Whon ho saw tlio Arahura crossing the bow of the Wimmora ho immediately gave the order to stop. He saw tho port and masthead lights of tho Arahura about a quarter of a mile away. His vessel, though not going ahead, may have been drifting with n tide setting strongly to tlio north-east. As tho Arahura approached sho was leading across the Winimera's bows. Ho Kave tho order "Slow ahead!" one minute heforo ho saw the Arahura/ His vessel had not gained headway beforo the order "Stop!" was given. At 11.1 tho order was given "Full speed astern!" . Tlio helm was not touched, as his vessel had no stecrago way. Witness thought his vessel was going astern when tho Arahura struck-her. Ho did not notice tlio Arahura alter her courso at all. Sho seemed to bo cutting across the Home liner's bows, and then seemed to swing to .starboard and drop on to tlio bow of tho linor. The vessels bumped, and the Arahura swung round, passing clear of tlio Homo liner's stern on tho port side. The Arahura did not signal or whistle while she was coming on, nor did tho Home liner signal to tho Arahura. Witness did not know tho regulation under the Harbours Act regarding the uso of the whistlo. He thought as tlio Arahura was tho overtaking vessel, and his vessel was stationary, tlio former would automatically givo him a clear berth.

Huntly Drydcn, master of $10 Arahura, said that at 10.45 o'clock tlio anchor was awav and he rang to tho engine-room "Hard, ahead starboard. Full astern port." Tho liner was showing a green light all the time. Ho put his helm "hard to port" to avoid her, although she .was "giving way." The ship did not appear to take action. Ho saw the liner .hearing down at right angles, a few feet awav, and he put the holm to starboard, hoping to get round his bows. When tlie AraImra struck, ho immediately stopped the engines .and the liner struck tho 2raiura again. As the ships drifted apart ho ordered the engines to be put r_-torn.