SYDNEY HARBOUR DISASTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 16 November 1927, Page 9

SYDNEY HARBOUR DISASTER

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. ADJOURNED to DECEMBER 28. (Received 16. 8.55 a.m.) Sydney, Nov. 15. At the Greycliffe inquest Cecil Sharpe, chief officer of the Tahiti, gave evidence that he was on duty on the forecastle of the Tahiti when the collision occurred. Both vessels were holding parallel courses and the Tahiti was going about seven knots an hour. Witness was halfwav up the forecastle head when he heard the first crash. He looked over the side and saw the Greycliffe across the Tahiti’s bows. Witness had gone to give some order ß to the boatswain when he heard shouting and rushed back along the deck. Then came the crash. There was nothing to indicate that the Tahiti had changed her course. When he reached the bows the Tahiti was crashing through the upper works of the Greycliffe. The latter listed heavily and appeared to sink right under the Tahiti’s stern. He then gave instructions for the accident boats to be launched, which was done and lifebelts were thrown overboard.

DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CONVERGING.

In reply to a question Sharpe said the vessels before the collision did not appear to be converging. From the time he first saw the Greycliffe in collision it was only 30 seconds until the ferry disappeared. He could not remember hearing anv blast of the whistle before the collision. The inquiry was adjourned until December 28