DISASTROUS FLOODS. YACHTING FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1350, 10 January 1905, Page 2

DISASTROUS FLOODS.

YACHTING FATALITY.

GREAT DAMAGE DONE. By Telegraph—Press Association Oopyrlgh Reoeived 1.19 a.m., Jan 10.

London, Jan. 9,

Tidal floods did enormous damage to the piers and promenades at Scarborough Yarmouth and Ramsgate.

THE VERDICT. IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS

Per Press Association. Wellington, last night. At the inquest to-day oonoerning the death of young Hobday, one of the victims of the Te Aroha fatality, Oaptain Post, in charge of the Government steamer Tutanokai, stated that the Marine Department a few years ago framed regulations covering yaohts and also boats plying for hire. Those regulations did not meet with the approval of harbor boards and yaohting clubs, and were consequently never given effect to. Under the present law the Department had no oontrol over yachte unless they were reported as being unsafe or unseaworthy. If a sufficiently largo steamer had been sent from Wellington on reoeipt of the message concerning the disaster last Monday, she would probably have roaehed the spot in time to save some of the men. Tnere was no hope of the yaoht getting out again with safety from the position she was in when first seen from lighthouse. Her only hope was to come into harbour or go ashore. Witness thought it would be a pity to unduly restrict or hamper yaohts with departmental rules and regulations. At the r.ame time it would be a wise provision if <t was made law that all yachts should notify the Marine Department of their intention of going outside a certain limit, such as Wellington yaohts going across Cook’s Straits. Suoh yaohtß should be inspected by a responsible officer as to seaworthiness and equipment, as well as restricted to the crew.

The jury returned .the following verdiot:—“ That deceased waa drowned by a boating aocideni at Wellington Heads with two others, and that suoh death was by misadventure, and without blame to anyone.” The following rider was added :—"That it be a recommendation to the fort Nioholson Yacht Club to see that their regulations with regard to efifioient equipment of yachts under their ooutrol with buoys, with the addition of life belts thereto, is rigidly observed ; also that they might extend their influence in this direotion.to, as far as possible, ail owners of yachts and sailing boats ; that .the jury is of opinion that Borne limit of tonnage of privately owned yaohts should be fixed, below which they should not be allowed to cruise outside restricted limits without a speoial permit from the Marine department.”