GISBORNE COLLISION.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1917, Page 3

GISBORNE COLLISION.

The Nautical Inguiry. Auckland, March 22 At the nautical enquiry to-day George Fraser, manager direotor of George Fraser and Co., engineers, said that he had made an examination of the liner and of the Arahura. He considered that tho injury to the liner was caused by the Arahura passing across her bow from starboard to port* The Aruhura struck a side blow do the stem and with the rebound passed round tbe liner to the port side, crushing the platiDg and stem. The starboard plating was drawn and the port plates crumpled, The stem of the liner wes fractured across the weakest part. Witness considered that tbe liner was stationary at the time of impact. So far as the hull of the Arahura was coucarned the only damage was a fracture about S feet long which coaid be repaired by tho

renewal of two plates. Her plating was marked and indicated that the injury was caused through contact with the liner’s broken s-ern. The liner had not penetrated the hull of the Arahura the latter simply being crushed. From hia examination he would say that the Arehura struck the liner when the latter practically was at a standstill. Jadgiog by the appearance of the liner’s stem he would say that full force was given by tbe Arahura. The Arahura’a roiling chocks were undamaged. Norman M’Leod Matthew, second engineer of the liner, gave evidence similar to that of hia superior officer* Charles Elvy, lamp trimmer on the liner, paid that on the night of the

accident he found the port light defective. An oil lamp was lighted and placed iD the port screen.

Further EvidenceAuckland, March 23 At the nautioal inquiry James Selby, boatswain cu tbe liner, said he was certain that the liner’s riding lights wero burning. Edward Ruby, quartermaster on the Home liner said that be was at the wheel. The captain and third officer were on the bridge. No compass course was given witness, when

he heard the captain order ’‘Ahead.” A minute later the master ordered “ Stop,” followed by “ Astern.” This was the last order given to the third officer before the collision. The last order given witness was “ Hard aslarboard,” and between that time and the collision be thought the liner’s bead went about a point to port. The ship held her course ahead for about a minute. He supposed the liner was going ahead a little at the time of the oollision. Samuel Dalrymple, Government inspector of machinery and surveyor of ships at Auckland, said he examined the liner after her arrival in Auckland. He saw no damage abaft the eecond frame from the ptem. Hq had

not seen damage exactly the seme where onß vessel had gone in stem on to auother at neatly right angles. Henry Ncy, Government surveyor of ship? at Auckland, gave evidence of the damage to the Arahura. Capttin Dryden, of tbe Arabnra, recalled, admitted that to his knowledge there was no special man on ‘ look-cut” duty. Up to the time of Ihe collision the chief officer was on forecastle bead superintending the weighing of the anchor. It was the custom in ships of the Union Company for this officer to keßp a look-out when the vessel was in harbour. He could not make a suggestion as to a satisfactory method of signalling tbe movements of ships in Gisborne roadstead.