LOSS OF THE ELINGAMITE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1911, Page 5

LOSS OF THE ELINGAMITE.

EVIDENCE AT THE FRESH ENQUIRY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Saturday. The enquiry into the loss of the Elingaraite off Three Kings in 1002 was reopened to-day before the Chief Justice, Captains Smith and Chrisp. In opening the case the SolicitorGeneral, who appeared for the Marine Department, said there could be no real doubt oliat the vessel was carried northward by a current. When the captain was .steering what he considered a safe course lie was in reality travelling directly towards the West King. The finding of the original Court wits that Captain Attwood was guilty of gross negligence in driving full speed through a fog up to 10 a.m. on Sunday, when he must havo known lie was near land. He never took a sounding before or after 10 a.m., and altered his course without sufficient reason. The Solicitor-General said liis duty was somewhat repugnant, but he had gone carefully into the. mater and come to the conclusion that the error in charting was irrelevant in judging Atwood's conduct. The Chief Justice remarked that the point was, if the captain had known the correct position of the islands would he not have allowed more sea room? Counsel for Attwood: That is the position in a nutshell. During the evidence to-day Captain Blacklmrne, nautical adviser to the Marine Department, stated that the islands were a mile and a half to the south and a third of a mile to the east of their position on the chart Attwood was probably using. Until the recharting, witness had no idea that the charts issued by tho Marine Department contained erroneous information.