Pilot Suspended

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 248, 10 January 1928, Page 1

Pilot Suspended

CONTROLLED TAHITI’S WHEEL

Widow Claims Compensation

THE New South Wales Supi 1 decided to suspend Capt the Tahiti when the ferry ste Press ' Association. SYDNEY, Monday. An Important announcement was made to-day by the Federal Minister of Customs, Mr. H. E. Pratten, on behalf of the Federal and State authorities, who have been co-operating since the staking of the ferry steamer Greydlffe in Syjfcey Harbour. He said that, as a result of the ilnding of Mr. Justice Campbell that the Tahiti, being the overtaking vessel, was solely to blame for the collision, the State Superintendent of Navigation has decided to suspend Captain Carson, who was the pilot on the Tahiti, from duty for an alleged breach of the collision regulations and for allegedly exceeding the speed limit as laid down by the Sythey Harbour Trust regulations. With the approval of the ActingPremier a charge will be laid under the pilotage regulations against Captain Carson by the State authorities, Captain Carson being a State officer. The charge will not, however, be heard until the coroner has completed the inquest Mr. Pratten added that the liability, II any, of the master and officers of the Tahiti was receiving careful consideration by the Federal authorities. Ths first writ In connection with the disaster has been issued by Mrs. Lee Brown, widow of Dr. *-•* Brown, against the Union Steam Ship Company, alaiming £3.000 compensation for the loss of her husband. TAHITI’S SPEED NOT CHECKED The Inquest on the victims of the Greyclille was resumed to-day, but

>rintendent of Navigation has lin Carson, who was piloting amer Greyclilfe was sunk. contrary to expectations neither Captain Carson, the pilot of the Tahiti, nor Captain Barnes, master of the Greycliffe, was called. Captain Hildebrand, assistant harbourmaster, gave evidence that men were stationed at points around the harbour to check the speed of certain out-going deep-sea vessels about which the Harbour Trust had been suspicious. When found to be going at too great a speed the Harbour Trust cautioned a ship, and it was sometimes necessary to go beyond a caution. Witness said he had never received a report about the speed of the Tahiti. —A. and N.Z.