NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7859, 29 June 1905, Page 3

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 28. An inquiry into the wreck of 11 British barque Emerald on the norl spit at the entrance to Kaipara Ha hour, on June 15th, was held t.o-di before Mr Kettle, S.M., and Ca tains' Adamson and Campbell, naut cal assessors. Mr Martin appeari for Captain Bushel. Mr Rose, Colle tor of Customs, said the question i issue was whether the master wi justified in entering the harbour such weather and so early in tl day. I After healing evidence as to ho the wreck occurred, Mr Martin ai dressing the Court, submilLed Ilia the only matter lor the Court t consider was as to whether the em of judgment shown by the captai was such as to lead the Court to oi der him to pay the.costs of the ij quiry. The position of the captai was that of a man who had bee trading for a great number of year on the coast, and whovwas called u[ on to decide suddenly upon the adof tion of a course for the safety of hi vessel and crew. The course the caj tain had adopted in the present ii stance was not an unreasonable om but it had turned out under the cii cumstances to have been an error c judgment. After the vessel had go into her dangerous position it ha been clearly shown that the captai: had taken the wisest and only sal course to provide for the safety o his crew. The Court decided that Captaii Bushel had committed an error o judgment in attempting to enter Kai para Harbour under the existing con ditions, but the error did not war rant the Court in suspending his cer tificate. He was, however, ordere! to pay the costs of the inquiry, £U 18s.