NEW THEORY
ACCOUNTING FOR TRAGEDY AT LYTTELTON LAUNCH HIT BY RICHOCHET SHELL. SALVAGE BEING ATTEMPTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Salvage operations were begun today in an effort to raise the sunken trawler Dolphin, which went to the bottom of Lyttelton Harbour with her owner. Mr Frederick James Brasell, after being sunk by a harbour defence gun on Thursday. It is hoped that a pile-driver’s powerful hoisting gear will be capable of pulling the Dolphin to the surface. Thus supported, she will then be towed into port by a tug. One theory of the sinking which is gaining some support in Lyttelton is that the Dolphin was sunk by a richochet and not by a direct nit. A workman on the dredge Canterbury is said to have been watching the Dolphin as she sailed towards the fort and saw the gun fired. Ho says he saw something splash in the water on the landward side of the vessel the moment before she was hit.
PROTEST BY FISHERMEN
ALLEGATION OF WILFUL NEGLIGENCE. MEETING AT LYTTELTON. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Expressing the opinion that the sinking of the trawler Dolphin was due to wilful negligence on the part of those in charge of the defence battery, fishermen today passed a resolution of protest which i will be forwarded to the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones. The meeting was held in committee, but a statement was issued subsequently by Mr F. P. Walsh, general secretary of the Seamen's Federation, who made a special visit from Wellington. Represented at the meeting were Lyttelton. Kaikoura, Akaroa and Timaru fishermen. The meeting passed a resolution pointing out to the authorities that the inspection vessel, instead of being stationed off Little Port Cooper, in accordance with the instruction issued to fishermen by the Defence Department, was actually stationed two or three miles on the port end of the harbour, near where the Dolphin was sunk. Mr Walsh was directed by the meeting to ask the Minister of Defence to make the fullest inquiry into the tragedy. Mr Walsh said that those present were confident that the Government would do all it possibly could to assist the fishermen in having the whole of the evidence considered and published. Fishermen in all parts of Canterbury had sent telegrams of protest to the. Minister against what they considered wilful negligence and demanding a full inquiry into the tragedy, continued Mr Walsh. Kaikoura fishermen discussed the sinking of the Dolphin yesterday and the following telegram was received by the Lyttelton meeting this morning:— “We protest in the strongest terms I against the shooting tragedy at Lyttelton, and propose that all voluntary help to naval and other authorities be withdrawn until all danger of further shooting is removed to the satisfaction of fishermen.”
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1939, Page 8
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464NEW THEORY Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1939, Page 8
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