The Jane Douglas and Tui Collision.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1506, 14 November 1885, Page 2

The Jane Douglas and Tui Collision.

Magisterial Inquiry. The inquiry into the collision between the steamers Jane Douglas and Tu| wast continued yesterday afternoon, . before' Mr H. S. Wardell R.M. and CaptainW Medley, R.N., and Cooper, Nautical Asg; sessors. Mr Izard appeared on behalf qf H.M. Customs, Mr FitzGerald for Captain Fraser, of the Jane Douglas, and Mr Gully for Captain Pope, ot the Tui. ..Wilham Rtiwlins, a plumber, residing at Palmerston North, and a passenger jaa. bwjd Jhe^Tai ai^he^ tii»e>,of ,thft^coj-. Tisioni "stateS thaT* when the latter steamer left the Queen's Wharf oa the: 20th ultimo the Jane Douglas was off. whilst crossing Evans Bay and near Point HalsWeli. After' rounding the latter point the witness noticed that the Tui was steering a little to the north of theTUghthouse.y The steamers iirstvcame together in-Kau Bay.?- Witness .did not hear Captain Pope threaten to run the Jane Douglas down, although he was standing on the bridge, alongside of him before and/ after- the' collision. L He heard Captain Fraser call out that the latter was a nigger-driver, and that if he (Captain Fraser) had a revolver he would shoot him. : . 5 . i ? . > James Carroll, a passenger on the Tai, cave corroborative evidence,. ,and' James McDonald, a seaman of the., same' steaowri al3o jjive evidence,' but 'nothing! fresh was elicUcd. " ; " ; Arthur Biddell, one of the Jane Douglas' "pasflfehgersf stated Vliat afi^r' leaving the wharf, as far; as he knew, the Jane Douglas went full spaed ahead. The . steamers-came into collision four or five times. If Captain Fraser had not ; stopped the steamer she would undoubtedly gone on the rocks. Did not hear Captain Fraser call Captain Pope a nigger driver. . • ; - ; ; • .Henry Ax up, a passenger of the Jane Douglas, gave corroborative evidence, and added that' Captain Eraser told Captain Pope to put a man at the Wheel who could steer, and when nearing Steeple Bock, when the two steamers I werc r loeked {bgetherj witness told, Cap- : tain Fraser that if he would not stop , the Jarte Douglas, he would go to the tele; > <;rapn'. himself. . , ■ '^ •'.'.. ;.;^ William Henry Roberts, a sergeant of the AiC. 'Force, stationed at, Fort ;Gori don, saidjihat he observed the steamers' passing Point Gordon, and m his opinion | they were a, good distance out,. of the ÜBiial ! cbursej- which; was about half a ; mile from the shore. He did not see tbl ■collision between the, steamers. ; r 1 Mr Gully asked the Blench if it would rule whether any actual collision had ioccurred, r as m his opinion none had ■taken place/ - ' '■■' i£ £ /■'', i Mr Wardall replied that tl\e Bench was unanimous m saying that a collision had ioccurred. '■-'■• i Messrs FitzGerald and Gully having' -addressed^ the Court'' on behalf of their clients, the Bench retired, and, after consideration,' Mr Wardell, BiMi, delivered the ■: following judgment: — "I am of Opinion that the collision was due to in 7 discretion on the part of Captain Pope of the Tui,* is not giving a wider berth to (the Jane Douglas when overtaking her on iher passage down the harbor, and m racing; his vessel against her. Asa consequence ■ of his conduct, the Tui' collided with the; 'Jane Douglas, m such a manner as to: do [no actual damage, yet so, as to impede her " on her . course, and to cause alarm jand discomfort to her passengers. That no actual, damage was caused was chiefly Wing" -'fo ' ' Captain Fraser *f or \ ha>ihjr ! stopped the Jane Douglas when he did. The practice iof tracing pksaengeris^amers m narrow waters is always attended with risk, and most, be: strongly condemned. I therefore reprimand Capta'm Pope for his conduct m this matter, and; order him to pay the costs of this inquiry, amounting to £40 ss. This decision is concurred m by t the nautical assessors who.