AN APPEAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1926, Page 4

AN APPEAL.

against n.utical cocrt. UY T!;f,ECRAPn —PRESS ASSN., OOPYRIOIIT. AfC ELAND. April 23. An appeal a<4:ii 11 ,sL tlio decision of the Nautical Court of Inquiry concerning the collision lictween the launch Iris Kilccn and the steamer Wainiu in ILmgitoto Channel on the night ol .July 7, was made by Alltort Laurence b’lJrieii, the owner of the launch in the Supreme Court this afternoon. The Nautical Court found that the accident was due to neglect of the launch master to go to port. New evidence was {riven by William Garrett. who was donkeyinan on the Wainui ,at the time of the collision, describing the happenings just before the impact. Witness said that he heard the telegraph ring and went to the engine room. The indicator in the engine room was at “ hull Astern/' but there was no one there to answer it. Some minutes later the telegraph again rang and the engineer came running aft to the engine room. The second ring was ' Ifall' Ahead.” Witness declared that the Wainui never went astern as ordered. ‘Witness gave it as Ids opinion that if the Wainui had ported her helm more, or if the order to go astern had been answered earlier, the collision might have been averted. The Waited was steering about, while, as far as he could see, the launch kept on the one course. Witness also alleged that the second mate, E. AT. Foster, was drunk at the time, and, although it was his watch, he was incapable. Captain Chatlield. recalled, denied the charges of drunkenness against the second officer. Foster. He said lie had assisted in handling the lifeboat after the collision, and was, in witness’s opinion, perfeetlv sober.

.The case was adjourned until tomorrow.