PROGRESS INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1931, Page 5

PROGRESS INQUIRY

COURT'S DECISION.

TUGS TO ISLAM I

(By Telegraph — Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 29

’I he opinion that the stranding and b ,v > of the f-oastal steamer ‘•progress’s could have, been avoided if cither the master of the tag ••Toia” or tie master <jv the tug “Ternw hiti” bad eatried out the duty that wa-s a-»ked, and reasmin Uv expected. of him, was expressed by the Nautical Court which .-investigated the yircumsta."ecs of the wreck, in its decision delivered this afternoon.

The Court said that it thought that it was a prudent emirs? lor the master of the Progress to have followed. This Court’s comincnt was that he displayed resource and seamanship in his efforts to save his vessel.

The Harbourmaster had acted promptly when taking it on himself to order the tug to proceed to the Progress, nnd the Toin got away with reasonable expedition.

Lu deferring to give the order to send the Toia away, the owners’ representative caused a delay of a little over half an hour. The Court held that the Toia set out much undermanned as to her deck hands, and said that, for a hazardous operation of that sort, at night time, and in heavy weather. three deck hands were Utterly inadequate. There seemed to he on the Toia a lack of foresight ami a. lack of attention to detail, militating against success. The task confronting Captain Campbell, master of the Toia, was not an easy one, but tlie court said that it entertained no doubt that he should have made a further attempt to take the Progress in tow during the hours °t darkne-s. An examination of Urn position by daylight would have disclosed to Captain Campbell that there was ample water for him to manoeuvre on whichever side of the Progress ho chose' to go. pic action io abandmi'iig her after davlight was indefensible. With regard to the action of the master of the tug Terawhiti in refusing to go out, his plain duty was to bare put to sea, and to have gone to tlm help of the Progress. The Coroner. Mr Page. S.M.. de'ivered Ids verdict in regard to the victims. of tlie disaster to the effect that they were drowned in the wreck of' the Progress. He bore testimony to the gallantry of those who, from the ,shore, endeavoured to save the lives of the crew, and particularly mentioned Messrs R. Alfa.no. A. Pottingor. Tan McHardv. Constable Hammond. Constable Baker, tlie fishermen and members of the Life' Saving Cbib. BuiT for their efforts, he said, it was doubtful if anv members of tlie crew would have reached the shore alive.