MARINE INQUIRIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1917, Page 4

MARINE INQUIRIES.

STRANDING OP MAEAROA. CAPTAIN FOUND CULPABLE. ®y Telegraph.—Pres? Association. Wellington, March IS, The magisterial inquiry into tha stranding of the Mararo-a concluded today. The court found that the mishap was due to the unexpected easterly set and dense fog, which prevented Captain Reid from ascertaining his position with any degree of certainty. In the opinion of the court the stranding was contributed to by an error of judgment on the part of the captain in failing to stop the shin at. 8 a.m. Under the weather conitions then prevailing the captain should have allowed himselt time to obtain accurate soundings, and in that way take all reasonable precautions to avoid stranding. The mishap was not due to any default on the part of the other olUcers nor of the crew. The captain's certificate would be returned, but he would be ordered to pay half the costs of tho inquiry. THE ARAHURA COLLISION. Auckland, March IS.The nautical inquiry, into the collision between the Arahura and a home liner was continued to-day. Captain Drydi n said he judges from the liner's lights that tho home liner was still at anchor when the Arahura left her moorings. The Arahura was inside of the home liner on the starboard bow, 'fully two cables from that vessel, when he saw the liner moving ahead. She was nearly half a mile away, hearing two points on his port bow. Witness retained his course and speed as a crossing ship till It o'clock, when he put his helm hard aport. He expected the liner to get out of the way till about a hundred yards away, when heisaw a collision was imminent. _ Captain Goddard, master of the Home liner, in answer to a question yesterday, said there were no regulations he knew of that notice should be given bv ont vessel to another of her intention to lilt anchor or proceed to sea. This was mutilated in a previous report. The inquiry is proceeding.