Ship's Captain Held Blameworthy

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 7

Ship's Captain Held Blameworthy

Fatal Collision B Ui, <ren Steamers LARGE CLAIM FOR DAMAGES FOLLOWS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Received Friday, 8.55 p.m. MELBOURNE, Feb. 12. Tho Marine Court has delivered its finding in tho matter of the KakarikiCaradale collision on January 29. The Court held thut the master of the Kakariki, Thomas William White, was in default in failing to keep out of the way of tho Caradale. By his action in altering his course to port, the Kakariki became the crowding ship with the Caradale on her starboard bow, White thus committing breaches of clauses 19 and 22 respectively of the Navigation Collision Regulations. The Court, however, found White not guilty of a gross act of misconduct and added that had both ships kept their respective courses, they would have cleared each other port side to port Bide, but the Kakariki altered her course to port making a collision inevitable. Claiming £15,000 damages for alleged negligenco in the navigation and control of the Kakariki, James Patrick and Company, Ltd., owners of the Caradale, have issued a writ against the Union Steamship Coy. arising out of the collision.

The City Coroner held an inquiry into the deaths of three of the five of the crew of the Kakariki and after hearing evidence, found that the men died by drowning by misadventure.

A fatal collision occurred early in the morning of January 29, between the Patrick Line steamer Caradale and the Union Line steamer Kakariki off the Gellibrand Pile Light, in Port Phillip Harbour, off Williamstown. The Kakariki was sunk and only about six feet of her funnel was showing above water.