“An Impossibility”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 249, 11 January 1928, Page 1

“An Impossibility”

GREYCLIFFE JUDGMENT Views of Shipmasters By Cable. —Press Association. — Copyright, SYDNEY, Tuesday. AT <i meeting of 25 shipmasters at the office of the Merchant Service Guild, a resolution was adopted which asserted that Mr. Justice Campbell’s finding in connection with the Greycliffe disaster involved a physical impossibility.

rpHE resolution was based on the, -*■ argument that it was impossible for the Tahiti to approach the Greycliffe from any direction from 10 degrees to 90 degrees on the port quarter and to bring about an impact with the Greycliffe with any part of the Tahiti except her stern.

Captain Lawrence, general secretary of the Merchant Service Guild, said there was no mark anywhere on the port quarter of the Greycliffe indicating or corresponding to a blow from the stem of the Tahiti. Other shipmasters also expressed the opinion that if the collision was brought about by the Tahiti, with her stem striking the Greycliffe to 20 degrees, as found by the court, it would ‘not cause the Greycliffe to take up a position which would eventually, and shortly afterwards, allow the Tahiti again to strike the Gfyycliffe at an angle from 45 degrees to 70 degrees

at a spot on the side on the Greycliffe 40ft ahead of the place where the court held that the first impact took place. The meeting also determined that the position should not be allowed to remain as it is. Further meetings are to be held.—A. and N.Z. “REGULATIONS OBSOLETE” SYDNEY, Tuesday. The inquest concerning the Greycliffe disaster was resumed to-day. Captain Hildebrand, first assistantharbourmaster, alleged that the sailing directions for Sydney Harbour, which were issued by the State Navigation Department, were obsolete. He said he p.eferred to rely on his own local knowledge. He added that more often than not the sailing directions were not observed by outwardbound vessels. The Navigation Department was now preparing new directions.—A. and N.Z.