WRECK OF TONGARIRO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17280, 22 September 1916, Page 5

WRECK OF TONGARIRO.

FINDING OF THE COURT.

MASTER AND CHIEf OFFICER TO,

CERTIFICATES SUSPENDED. [Pujr Rmbs Association.] 'WELLINGTON, September 21. Tho decision of the. Court inquiring Into the wreck of the Tongariro was' delivered to-day, as follows: . The wreck of the s.s. Tongariro on

lugust 30 was due to the vessel striking Bull Rock, near Portland Island, while on ft voyage from Auckland to Wellington From the evidence submitted the Court finds that tho wreck of the vessel

was (primarily caused by the default of the chief officer (Percy John Ballard) failing to take Ordinary precautions for verifying the position of tho vessel when off Table Cape. Had this .been done the disaster would not have occurred. The Court also finds that under the fine weather conditions then prevailing,, with calm sea and landmarks visible throughout the day, the course set'by v the master (Harry Makepeace), from . Gable End Foreland to pass Bull Rock two miles'.to the eastward, was a safe one ,if the vessel’s position bad been ascertained at Tablo Cape by cross bearings.) " • ' That; considering the master was responsible' fon, the safe navigation of the vessel, with his knowledge of the coastline and lights, and the danger in approaching and passing Bull Reck in • darkness,. the, duty lay upon him of > ascertaining with, some certainty r

passing Tablo Cape whether the vessel was on the course laid off.. That in only making a general inquiry from the, chief officer at' 6.45 p.m. as to tho. vessel’s position ho failed in tint charge of that duty, and thus contributed to the loss of the vessel.

. The Qonrt also finds that, neither tho . master qr chief officer can fix with any ' certainty the time when the vessel was off Table Cape. < That the set toward the south-west, of .wfhtih eviderico was given, tended to slightly accelerate the speed of the vessel and take her off her courSe to the westward, hut not to such an extent as could not have been corrected >if ordinary precautions had'been followed of taking a bearing from Portland Island '•light .within a reasonable time after passing Table Capo, to as-' certain whether tho vessel was on her

coarse. \ The Court find? that none of • the other officers or crew of the vessel contributed in any way. to the loss. The decision of tfie Court is that the default of both mister and chief 'officer . contribute^'to the wreck* - of the vessel, and the, certificate of tho master will be suspended for a period of six months and that of the chief ' officer > for a period of three months. They will also be ordered to pay half the costs ,of the inquiry in tho . following proportions :—The master two-thirds of such half-cost and the chief officer one- / third of such half-cost. ,+ ■ After the Court had delivered judg- , ment counsel for a. reduction of costs on the ground that’ th’o suspension of their certificates, had deprived the captain and chief, officer of the means of making a living. , The Magistrate said that"* he would ascertain what the costs were. . This was done-, and later on he reV duced the amount to £lO - for* the master and £3 for the chief officer. Application, also was made for the issue of; a mate’s certificate to the chief officer. . • • • Tfco Court said there was. provisi6n for this, and both the captfiin: and chief officer could apply and the Court would recommend granting ,it. The captain’s counsel said he would not epply.