THE HAUPIRI.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 28, 30 May 1912, Page 5

THE HAUPIRI.

NAUTICAL, ENQUIRY. ' (Per Press Association.) Wellington, May 29. The enquiry into the accident to the steamer Haupiri on May lb on the voy age from Wellington to Picton commenced to-day. Captain Morrison, in Jiis evidence, stated that at the time of the accident rain came down I ke a blanket, obscuring everything and cutting out every light. This lasted until after the steamer struck Barrett’s reef at the mouth of Wellington harbour. The mishap was due to the temporary sudden darkness. Had he stopped the vessel he would have endangered her, either through blocking the ehcannel and risking a collision with another boat or through running on to the rocks. The court found that Captain Morrison had committed an error oi judgment in not anchoring the vessel when he found all this lights were obscured by heavy rain squalls and it was impossible to fix bis exact position. The court commended Captain Morrison for the way in which ha handled (lie ship after the accident. The court ordered him to pay tthe costs of the enquiry.