HARBOUR MISHAP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 712, 11 July 1929, Page 9

HARBOUR MISHAP

MARINE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES CLOSE QUESTIONING Close questioning and determining of points in the second day of the nautical inquiry into toe collision in toe 'Waitemata Harbour on May 3 between the steamer Rangitoto and the launch Alert, continued in the Magistrate’s Court today. The hearing continued before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., and the assessors, Captain W. Watt and Mr. S. Dalrymple. Mr. V. N. Hubble appeared for the Marine Department, Mr. W. H. Cocker for toe Northern Steamship Company, Mr. Allan Moody for the master of toe Rangitoto, Captain E. J. Wann and Mr. L. P. Leary for the owners of toe Alert, Messr3. Parry Brothers, and the master, L. G. Sherman. Leslie G. Sherman, master of the Alert, described toe course of toe launch. After a wide sweep from Devonport, the helmsman drew witness’s attention to the port light of the Rangitoto, which was over toe starboard bow, about 250yds away. He steered to starboard to avoid a collision and gave a blast on toe whistle before changing the course. Witness told Mr. Moody that he had not seen the Rangitoto’s lights when he set the course from Devonport. When he saw the port light he knew that the Alert was the ‘'givingway” vessel. In evidence this mormng, Charles H Emptage, who was on the deck of toe Alert all the time, said he first saw the Rangitoto’s mast light and then the side lights. The approaching steamer’s port light was cut out and both vessels’ lights became starboard to starboard. "At about 200 yards,” witness said, “the Rangitoto’s port light came across toe Alert’s bow-. I called toe captain, who sounded the whistle and turned to starboard. The Rangitoto then came to port and we were struck on the port side.” To Mr. Moodv, witness said he had no need to alter his course to starboard when he saw the Rangitotos side lights. Answering searching questions by Mr. Moody, witness denied that the troublg was caused by the skipper of the Alert swinging the launch across toe Rangitoto’s bow. "The proof of toe pudding is in too eating,” observed Mr. Moody. Witness admitted that the collision may not have taken place if the master of the Alert had not swung to starboard. The next witness was William Piri. of the Alert. He was standing on the deck, and drew the captain's attention to the port light. “There was then no chance of avoiding a collision," he said. "The Alert's whistle was blown.” Witness said to Mr. Moody that the only look-out on the Alert was by the man at the helm. Conflicting statements by the helmsman of the Rangitoto was stressed by. Mr. Leary in his address to the court. He said it was apparent that two steering orders had been given to the helmsman and something like a panic took place on the Rangitoto. Tracing the points leading up to the collision. Mr. Leary said that the Alert had been left in a position in which something had to be done. “In the stress of the moment. I sug- ! gest that those on the small ship did j the seamanlike, thing, and should be ! exonerated.” he said. “T contend that i the onus of the explanation of the l accidem lies on those on the Rangi- : toto.” (.Proceeding. j