QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10284, 20 May 1919, Page 3

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

JHI REGENT STRANDING

COURT EXONERATES MASTER

AND MATE

*The Magisterial Court of Inquiry into the loss of the coastal steamer Queen of the South near Cape Campbell on Saturday, May 10th, delivered its judgment yesterday. The court comprised: Mr D: G. A. Cooper, S.M. (chairman), Captain W. Manning and Captain C. McArthur. In' the course of its judgment the court said that the wreck was primarily duo to the light on Cape Campbell Lighthouse being obscured by fog, and no other lights or landmarks being visible by which the master might have seen the vessel was not making a safe course. The evidence showed that the course set after leaving Pencarrow—S and W i west—should havt, •aken the vessel about nine miles off Capo Campbell; had the tide been as the master expected it would be. Theoretically, a sale course was steered, but had the master had more experience of the locality he wou.d have made an allowance to counteract the effect of the flood-tide. "While accepting the theory that the two cases of magnetos- shipped as cargo might possibly have been a contributing cause to the accident, the court pointed out that there was no evidence adduced to prove that these-cases were stowed in Buch proximity-to the compass as to [have produced a- deviation sufficient to have been the sole cause of the wreck. The court found that the loss of the j vessel was not caused by, or contribuj ted to by, the wrongful act of the master or any of his officers or crew, but might not have occurred had the master possessed more experience of the tides in that part of the Straits. It was decided to return the certificate of the master and mate. The court did not consider it a case where the master or mate should be ordered to pay costs. The court recommended:

(1) That official tests should be made to ascertain at what distance magnetos attract compasses. '.„■..., * (2) That all electrical goods shipped should he clearly marked "electrical." It was added that the reason for making, these recommendations was on account of the effect the carrying of electrical goods in the holds of small vessels might have on the compasses of such vessels.