THE ARIADNE SENSATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 October 1901, Page 4

THE ARIADNE SENSATION.

Yachfc Insured for £20,000

Reported to be worth £SOOO. (per press association.) Wellington, This Day. Chief Detective McGrath, and Constable McLeod of Christchurch, went to Sydney- by the Ta'.uno on Saturday to bring back Kerry and Frcke. CnEisrcitOßcn, Oct. 12. ” George Mumford, skipper of the yacht Ariadne, who was remanded on Wednesday last on a charge of easting away the vessel near Waitaki on the 24th March, appeared before the Magistrate this morning on throe additional charges, viz, of casting away the ship in concert with Preko, of having at Sydney with Kerry (the owner) and Preko formed the common intention to cast away the ship, and at Sydney with the other two, conspired to defraud the underwriters.

Mr Bishop, S M, stated that the improper suggestion had been made to him that he should allow 1 the accused to de-

posit a certain sum to cover the sureties. He doubled the former bail in the personal bond of accused for £4OO, and requiring two sureties of £2OO each.

The Ariadne was an English yacht, which was travelling round the world, and went ashore on the beach south of the Waitaki River, at 8 12 o'clock on Sunday night; March 24th last. The owner, Mr J. C. Kerry, was in Sydney at the time, and had instructed his sailing master, Mr George Mumford, to proceed to Dunedin, and it was in making for that port that the vessel wont ashore. It was stated at the time that the crew, who were unfamiliar with the coast, were misled by the high hank extending along the neighbourhood, and were stranded before their position was realised. At the magisterial enquiry, begun on April 11th at Oimaru, Mumford attributed the vessel’s striking to the strong current, which retarded its progress from the land, and increased it on the windward tack. Captain Willis, Lloyd’s agent in tho colony, said that in his opinions Captain Mnmford’s charts were not sufficient for safe navigation. He estimated the value of the vessel at £SOOO, without the lead ballast, while J. C. Kerry, the owner, stated that the vessel was insured for £20,000. The-man at the wheel, when the vessel stranded, deposed that the discipline was bad. He saw the breakers a few minutes after going on duty, but as there was a man on the look-out he did not consider it his duty

to report. As to whether the night was dark, the evidence of the crew was conflicting. The decision of the Court was that there was no evidence to supportthe assumption that tho vessel was designedly stranded. The captain had not exercised due care, and had been guilty of a grave error of judgment, and his certificate was suspended for three months, and he was ordered to pay fifteen guineas expenses.