GREYCLIFFE DISASTER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 806, 29 October 1929, Page 9

GREYCLIFFE DISASTER

EXPERT WITNESSES DIFFER SHARPLY THEORY OF INTERACTION (United P.A.-—By Telegraph—Copyright J Reed. 9.45 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. Expert evidence on the theory of interaction is now being given before Mr. Justice Halse Rogers iu the Admiralty Court, which is hearing the £30,000 claim by Sydney Ferries, Limited, against the Union Steam Ship Company, arising from the Greycliife disaster in November, 1927.

The judge announced that he had read a large portion of technical evidence given by Sir John Harvard Biles, the noted naval architect, on interaction, and there was a complete divergence of opinion among highlyqualified gentlemen on either side, one of which said there were certain wave influences from the overtaking vessel, and that the Greycliffe was never in the sphere of any influence which would turn her, while the other set of -witnesses held that the raising of the water at the head of a ship would cause a pressure of water which would have the effect of turning the vessel. Defendants, moreover, claimed that it was impossible to make any experiments of any value. The judge added: “In the circumstances, I am still in a state of openmindedness.” TESTS ABOARD TAHITI

Mr. H. E. Manning, K.C., counsel for Sydney Ferries, Limited, the plaintiffs, obtained the consent of the court to four representatives of the ferry company going aboard the Tahiti on her outward voyage on Thursday, in order that they might make certain observations from the bridge and engine-room while the vessel was steaming down the harbour on condition that the Tahiti should be handled under instructions from the pilot. The judge pointed out that it would be difficult at the same time to provide a vessel of the Greycliffe’s size for this demonstration, owing to the danger of a “hitch” occurring. CRICKETER’S EVIDENCE ROGER BLUNT RETURNS FROM SYDNEY EYE-WITNESS OF .ACCIDENT Evidence in the inquiry into the Greycliffe disaster has been given by Mr. Roger Blunt, of Dunedin, New Zealand representative cricketer, who returned from Australia on the Ulimaroa this morning. Mr. Blunt, who was a member of the New Zealand team which toured England in 1927, distinguished himself by his forceful batting and was very favourably commented on in the Homeland. When on the way to New Zealand the team boarded the Tahiti at Sydney and it was while the vessel was steaming out of Sydney Harbour en route for Wellington that the accident happened. The big steamer struck a harbour ferry, the Greycliffe, which sank quickly with heavy loss of life. The disaster was witnessed by Mr. Blunt, who was standing on the boat deck. When he returned to New Zealand he was interviewed in Christchurch and as a result of the statement he made there he was called to Sydney a fortnight ago to give evidence before the commission of inquiry.

Though his Australian visit was made for the sole object of appearing before the commission, Mr. Blunt managed to find time for a visit to the Sydney cricket ground, on which he played last Thursday.