STRANDING OF WAR LORD

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9845, 25 October 1924, Page 5

STRANDING OF WAR LORD

COURT OF INQUIRY’S FINDING

MASTER EXONERATED AND COMMENDED.

The finding of the Nautical Court •of Inquiry, which investigated the circumstances of the stranding of the schooner War Lord near Waikokopu harbor on the night of July 7, was given yesterday morning. The Court consisting of Mr. E. 0. Levvey, S.M., with C’ap-ts. J. W. H. Holmes and A. Miller as nautical assessors, heard evidence on Tuesday and delivered the following judgment yesterday:— 1. The loss or damage was caus-

ed by the snapping or breaking of the cable chain attached to the

starboard anchor during a heavy •southerly gale. 2. The nature of the loss was the

stranding on the 'Opoutama Beach. 3. That the said stranding was the result of the breaking or snapping or the cable chain attached to the starboard anchor ;is aforesaid, suid that the master did all that was proper to be done in the circumstances and took all necessary and proper precautions and acted in a proper and correct method to ensure the safety of the vessel up to. and after, the breaking of the

said cable chain, and that the casualty was not due to any wrongful ■art or default on the part of the master of the said vessel. Ar.no>.: The Court is of-the opinion that the master is deserving of ccminioudaUon for the seamanlike manner m which he benched Ins. vessel after the said breaking of the cable chain and thereby avoided loss of life.

Mr Mar.-n’s application for costs -against the Marine Department was refused.