THE RONA INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1922, Page 5

THE RONA INQUIRY.

VERDICT OF COURT. CHIEF OFFICER BLAMED. By Telegraph.—Press Association Auckland. July 17. The Court of Inquiry on the stranding of the Rona found the main responsibility was with Chief Officer Grantley but the master, in acting as he did. was not acting fully in accordance with the high traditions of seamanship and the exacting care at all times required of a master. The Court attributed the casualty to the mate’s mistake and to the fact tnaz he never seriously accepted the responsibility of being in charge at that time. Captain Wallace was ordered to pay half the costs of inquiry. Grantley’s master’s certificate was suspended for six months, and he was ordered to pay half the costs of the inquiry. The captain was commended for his seamanship after the disaster. The Rona judgment concluded: The captain left the bridge with a remark that would naturally lead the chief officer to think he would return in the course of a few minutes. He did not come back on the bridge until the ship struck half an hour later. The chief officer’s request for instructions showed that the absence of them influenced him. What seemed likely was that the master did not consider he was yet in waters in which it was necessary to keep his mind at' tension. He allowed the steward to engage his attention and draw him into forgetting all about the bridge. We think some blame, though only a very minor part of it, must fall upon the master, and it must carry some penalty. He will he ordered to pay one half of the costs and his certificate will be returned. There is no excuse for the first officer. Practically the whole responsibility must be with him. • We have considered his previous excellent record, his absolute frankness, and his honest desire to shoulder all the blame. The matter is too serious for us to do other than order his certificate to be? ; suspended for six months, and that he> pay half the costs of the inquiry. The Rona finding was unanimous. The Court, replying to Grantley, said it would offer no objection to the Minister of Marine granting him, for the period during which his master's certiveate was suspended, a certificate of lower grade.