NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 29 February 1928, Page 5

NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

' TAMAHINE AND MAUNQANUI. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, This Day. A nautical inquiry into a navigation incident in Cook Strait on February 13th, opened before Mr Riddell, S.M., this morning. The vessels concerned were the Syd-ney-bound Maunganui (Captain A. H. Davies) and the Pic ton ferry steamer Tamahhu; (Captain .1. E. McClellan), and both officers were disrated by the Union Company. Captain Davies said his vessel left Wellington at 3.3 p.m. and outside the entrance to the harbour he saw the Tamahine throe lengths behind his ship. He did not give any signal when changing the course, because it was not necessary as the Tamahine was in no way in danger. The 'vessels closed in, hut wore never in any danger at any time. Captain Davies said that he was never closer than 250 to 300 feet to the Tamahine and he had not deviated from his usual Sydney course. The Tamahine, after giving three blasts, swung behind the Maunganui and went off towards Tory Channel. There never was any danger. Captain McClellan said that there was always plenty of room and the reason he had gone astern was to get into his-own course-to Picton as quickly as possible without any risk. There never .was any danger at any period of the voyage. Donald Mcßean, second engineer of the Tamahine, said that, except at special orders, the usual speed was maintained throughout. They went astern for a. quarter of a minute, having the effect of a momentary pause. Norman Joseph Siepman, chief officer of the Maunganui, said there never was any danger. Captain McClellan considered a great deal of fuss had been caused by people with no technical knowledge. He was never closer than 275 ft or a ship’s length to the Maunganui. The vibration of a vessel going astern always excited the passengers.