MARAMA MISHAP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 295, 22 May 1915, Page 7

MARAMA MISHAP.

SKCOXJ) OFFICER BLAMED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 21. The Marine Court to-d:iy is investigating the circumstances connected with tin- grounding of the Union Company's steamer Marama on January 27, abo,it 15 miles outside San Francisco. Captain Crawford's evidence, which was taken in Sydney, was handed in. It was to the ell'cct that when the accident happened there was a strong south-east wind with rain and a moderate sea. The I'ght at Montiirti Point had been chang.d,- but lie (Crawford) had not been notified of this. Cross-examined, witness said when the New Zealand Gazette was issued in l'M'i notifying the change of the light witness was in the island trade. When he was appointed to the San Francisco trade he obtained the necessary charts and the ones he could not obtain from a Sydney firm lie got from the Willochra. The chart in use at the time of the accident was one taken over from that vessel, and was previously in the Aorangi. He would have expected a change of the 'Moiitara Light to be notified on the chart. After the evidence was concluded the Court found the mishap was due to the captain mistaking lights. The Court exonerated him from blame, .but found the second oliiccr, McCiilloeh, .contributed to the accident by neglecting to inform the captain of the existence of a chart of a later date than the one in use.