NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1928, Page 3

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

fßy Telegraph, Per Press Association, j WELLINGTON, Feb. 29. The Nautical Enquiry into the navigation incident in took Strait on 3rd. of February was opened by Mr Riddell S..M. this morning. The vessels concerned were the Sydney-bound Maunganui (('apt. A. H. Davies) ami the Pieton ferry steamer Tamahine (Capt. J. E. MeLellan). Both officers were disrated by the Union Coy. (.'apt. Davies said his vessel left at p.m. and when outside the entrance oif the harbour saw the Tamahine three lengths behind his ship. He did not give any signal when changing his course, because it was not necessary as the Tamahine was in no way in danger at the time. .Captain- Davies said that he was never closer than 250 to 30011. oil the Tamahine and lit* had not deviated from the usual Sydney course. The Tamahine after giving three 'blasts swung oil towards ’lory Channel. I here was never any danger. Capt. MeLellan said that lie always had plenty of room and the reason he bad gone astern was to get on to his own course to Pieton as quickly as possible without any risk. There never was any danger at any period of the voyage. He considered a great deal of fuss had been caused h.v people with no technical knowledge. He was never closer than 275 ft. or a ship’s length of the Maunganni. The vibration of a ship when a vessel was going astern always excited passengers. Donald Mi-Bean, second, engineer of the Tamahine, said that except for special orders, the usual speed was maintained •throughout. They went astern for a quarter of a minute, it having Hie effect of a momentary pa ust?. Norman Joseph Seipan (Chief Officer of the Mauugamti) -said there was never any danger.