ELINGAMITE INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 16, 20 January 1903, Page 3

ELINGAMITE INQUIRY.

DIOISION OF THE COURT. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, January 19. The judgment of "he Court appointed to inquire into tf:e loa- of Mfssr.-i Huddart Paiker and CompanyV steimer Elingamite on the Three King's, was given this morning. The Court was of opinion that there was no grounding astern until aftor the vessel struck. Toe engineer* all told the same story, advanced the same j theory, and showed the same reluci taece to speak rar didiy about the i engines. , It was cleir that owing to [gome defect in the engines'reversing gear, they would not ac', and thus a chance of saving the vessel was lost. Satisfactory as the testimony of the engineers was, the Court could not held the surviving engineers roepjusible for what happened. The Court, found that Ciptain Attwood was guilty of grossly negligent navigation in diiving at fall speed through the fog, when he must have known that he was near the lacd ; in negli cting to take soundings before altering the couree; in proceeding at knots without Founding; and in not carefully ascertaining the speed.

The Court also found tbat after the wreck, a grave error of judgment was committed by Captain Attwood in allowing No. 1 boat to leave with only hilf her completement.

I The master and the firs'; officer were ' blamed f r not having the boats properly equipped and tackl'd, and for the fact tbat the crew were not effic : eot in | boat drill. | The officers should have kept the boite and rafts together until a concerted plan of action was agreed upon. While the certificated of the first and second officers must; be returned, thsir conduct was not commendable, either in handling the boats, or in leaving the passengers adrift on the rafts. Captain Attwoed's certificate was suspended for a year, and he was ordered to pay £SO towards the co*& of the inquiry. Referring to the experience ef tLo*e on the rafts, the Court exprers°d the opinion that there was no foundation for any charge of unnatural conduct, though the survivors had gone through as much as men could and live.