THE BARQUE LUTTERWORTH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8255, 8 October 1906, Page 7

THE BARQUE LUTTERWORTH.

NAUTICAL COURT'S DECISION. Tbe Nautical Court, consisting of Dr. A. M'Arthur. S.M., and Captains Gray and Gilleßpie, which, on Friday, enquired into the mishap of the barque Lutterworth in Cook Straits, on Saturday, gave its decision. The President, in answer to questions raised at the enquiry, replied : "(1) The casualty was not in any way due to or caused by or contributed to by the negligence or carelessness of the master or any of the officers on the said vessel. "(2) The vessel was properly and Bufßoiontiy ballasted and proper shifting boards were provided. "(3) The casualty was due to the vessel lurching heavily, thus causing the shifting of the ballast, which shifting was contributed to by the shifting boards being insufficiently hi « h -" . . ■ A f The President, in giving sudgmeiit, said.— '"Everything went well till 7 p.m., on Sunday September 30th when the master was going to run for the Straits. At thia time the weather was thick. A moderate gale was blowing with a heavy sea running. The vessel went into tbo trough of the eea and the ballast shifted. Sne then became unmanageable and the master ordered the masts to be out away to save the ship from going under. Tbe evidence is not clear as to when the guide of the steering gear carried away. lam of opinion that the master was fully justified in doing what he did to save the lives of those on board, and that there is no Llame attachable to him or his officers and crew. I may add that the assessors entirely concur in this decision. No order as to costs." The President added that he aymi/athised with Captain Hicks, master of *ho vessel, in his trouble.