BARRIER WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 June 1922, Page 5

BARRIER WRECK.

FINDING OF THE COURT. TWO ERRORS OF JUDGMENT. GREATER CAUTION NEEDED. By Telegraph-—Press Association. Wellington, June 23. The nautical inquiry into the loss of the Federal Steam Navigation Company’s steamer Wiltshire, which was wrecked on Great Barrier Island on the night of May 31, was continued to-day. Replying to Mr. Meredith, Mr. Cutten, S.M., said: “You will be very clever if you get an expression of opinion from us about the set of the current; that does not bother us at all. There are two points on which we require to be satisfied. The first is the continuing at full speed when the master failed to pick up the light when he expected it; the second, that when he got soundings that showed the necessity for immediate action before the checking of the sounding, he did not take immediate action, but proceeded at full speed. Mr. Meredith was granted an hour’s adjournment to deal with s the points thus raised. Mr. Meredith, after consulting Captain Hayward, said that his client was satisfied to let the matter stand at the issues indicted by Mr. Cutten. He would not call any more evidence. Mr. Meredith proceeded to address i the court on the evidence. Auckland. Last Night. At the Wiltshire inquiry, after counsel had addressed the court, the following finding was delivered:— “The cause of the casualty was that the vessel struck the rocks on that portion of the south-east of the Great Barrier Island, to the northward of Rosalie Bay, and we are of opinion that the casualty was due to two errors of judgment of the master. Had the ship made the course set, and travelled at the speed estimated by the master, the ship would, according to the master's own evidence, be within range of Cuvier light at 10 p.m., but the light was not picked up. “We think that for the ship td continue at full speed for an hour after this time, while unable to pick up the light, was an error of judgment. The fact that the ship was unable to pick up the light could only have two explanations, either that visibility was not good or that the ship was not in the position expected. It is the duty of a master in such circumstances to give due weight not merely to the question of visibility, but to the possibility that the ship is not in the position expected and to proceed with caution.

“Further, at the end of an hour a sounding was taken, which indicated danger and the necessity for immediate action. The failure to accept the notification of danger that the sounding implied and to act accordingly, because the arming of the lead brought up nothing indicating the nature of the bottom, was a grave error of judgment. The casualty might have been avoided by proceeding with greater caution when unable to pick up Ouvier light as expected and later by acting immediately upon the indications of .danger given by the sounding taken about 20 minutes before the vessel struck.

“We have found the mastar made two errors of judgment, on.e being a very grave error. There is no reason to deal with the master’s certificate, and it will be returned to him, but he will be ordered to pay the costs of the enquiry.”

Mr. Cutten added that the Court would like to express appreciation of the conduct of the master and officers, who did their very best after the ship stranded, and showed a very excellent example to the men. He further made reference to the very great work of the rescuers.