CAPTAINS TO PAY

Hokitika Guardian, 22 February 1932, Page 4

CAPTAINS TO PAY

STORM AND BREEZEFINDING OF INQUIRY. (By Telegraph —Per Frets A stociatio'V') CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 20. The finding of the Nautical Court, which inquired into the mishaps of the coastal steamers Breeze and Storm was given this afternoon. The Courtheld that in both cases the accidents were contributed to by errors of judgment on tin 1 part of tbe masters, Captain M. M. McArthur, of the Breeze, and Captain L. B. Sheppard, of the Storm. Captain McArthur was ordered to pay £56 10s costs, and ' Captain Sheppard £lB 15s. In respect to the Breeze, the Court, stated the master’s statements in regard to several matters were unreliable, and the explanations of the mate, Charles Alfred Williams, in regard to alterations in the log hook wore weak and unconvincing.

In regard to the Storm, the Court expressed the opinion that the second mate, William Robert W’illiams, had endeavoured to unduly affect the reputation of the master. The Court issued a general statement as follows: —“Several of the ship’s records in the cases that have come before us have been kept in art unsatisfactory manner. Mariners, in the public interest and in their own interests, should exercise great care in properly and accurately making the necessary entries in their record.”