STRANDING OF A SCOW

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 176, 21 April 1921, Page 6

STRANDING OF A SCOW

THE MAGIC’S MISHAP NAUTICAL INQUIRY OPENED The nautical inquiry into the stranding of the scow Magic was opened yesterday in the Magistrate’s Court. The Court comprised Mr. AA r . G. Riddell, S.M., chairman, and Captains AV. Manning and AV. J. Rogers. Mr. J. Prendeville, of the Crown Law Office, appeared for tho Marine Department, Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldie for the mas-, ter of the scow, and Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson for tho Wellington Harbour Bqird. After entering Port Nicholson on March 26 and while ’beating up the harbour, the Magic missed stays and stranded between Pencarrow Head and Inconstant Point. The stranded vessel was owned by the Hansford and Mills Construction Company, Ltd. She was an auxiliary vessel fitted with 60-h.p. engines, and was bringing a load of marble for the Parliament Buildings when she went ashore. Mr. Prendeville stated that a subpoena haxl been issued for tho engineer of the vessel to attend, but he had not been Mr. Kirkcaldie said the cause of the mishap apparently was tho ship missing stays. He could not say what was the cause of this, but there had been rumours which he thought made it inadvisable for the inquiry to go on unless the whole of the evidence was taken at the one sitting. It might be that the evidence of the engineer was unimportant;'on the other hand, it might be of special value, and if that was so he thought that neither the captain’s evidence nor that of the crew should be taken until the other evidence was available. Air. Prendeville said they had done their best to get the engineer served, but had not so far succeeded. He qur> agreed that' it might lie possible that the engineer’s evidence would be material and he quite saw the difficulty the Court might lie in in regard to the matter. However, the other witnesses were in attendance, and he was prepared to go on. , ~ , , , Mr. Riddell remarked that a. date should have been fixed when all of the witnesses could have been present. He did not feel disposed to adjourn the -inquiry because one of the witnesses was not in attendance. , Mr Kirkcaldie pointed out. that it the inquiry was held now the position of his client might be seriously prejudiced. The mishap might have been due to engine trouble. The vessel had engines of 60 horse-power, and had failed to go round in a strong wind. . After further discussion it was decided to* adjourn the inquiry until Friday, April 29. ___________