HARBOUR COLLISION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1929, Page 6

HARBOUR COLLISION

THE COURT’S FINDING

AUCKLAND, July 11. The Nautical Enquiry into the collision 'between the Northern Company’s steamer Rangitoto and the launch Alert, in Waiteniata Harbour, on the evening of May 3rd, was concluded before Mr Wyvern AA ilson, S.M., and Captain William Watt and Afi- Samuel Dalrymple, assessors, in the Magistrate’s Court. The Court found that no blame was attachable to the master of either vessel, and the fault lay with the helmsman of the Alert. On the questions put to the Court, the Magistrate found: “That the launch Alert failed to keep on the correct side, and having crossed the ltangitoto’s bows, failed to get back to her correct side; that the collision was due to careless navigation on the part of the helmsman of the Alert, and that lieiflier of the masters was at fault; that the collision could have been avoided by the Alert keeping on the starboard side of the .Rangitoto instead of swinging across, just prior to the collision; that no person, on tile Rangitoto failed to observe the regulations relating to collisions at sea; that the action of the master of the ■ Rangitoto, in the agony of collision, was commendable, that the helmsman of the Alert failed to gLe way until too late.” The Court made no order as to costs, each party being required to pay its own. ■ . *' - -