RESULT OF THE MAGISTERIAL ENQUIRY. CARELESSNESS ON TIIE PART OF THE CAPTAIN.

Tho finding of Dr. M'Avthur, S.M., concurred in by Captains Anderson nnd Bowling (nautical nsse&sors), in regard to the wreck of tho barque Ben Avon, near Gij>e Pnllihi-r Liglithou.vo lnsfr week, vri'tt delivered this morning, n» follows: — "I find that after pawing Banks Peninsula, moro prec«utione ought to have bc^n tnken by tlio master to nsocrtain tho ship's powilion by fioundingii; thnt when the ohip got in tho vicinity of Cook's Straits the wenther being thick and dirty, the j mnAtor acted cnrelcwly in not taking «t least ono cost of tho lead, an invariable precaution under tho circumstances of tho case. Iho ship was in thick weather, running with a fair wind and northerly current. No nllowonco waa made for tho fair wind or tlio northerly current, and the maatar ought not to have run so for to the northward, not being euro of his position. Tho master scorns to have trusted too mum to hi* compam having been correct maguetic, which is rarely, if ever tho case, iv an iron «bip. The loas of tlio whip in my opinion was due to the master placing too much reliance in the pilot and not talcing the precaution* named nbovo to nacf rtttin his enact position when h* waa in the midst of thick and dirty weather. The certificate of tho •econd oflletT will bo returned, as he waa in no way 10 blame, but thnt of th« master will bo suspended for three months." Mr. Gray, counsel for Captain Dixon. aaid ho waa Aurpriaed at the finding of tho Court. >«o chargo lwd bern mado ngitiiiHt tho captain or the officers. Mr. 80.1, who Iwd apj)eore<l for the Customs, had mentioned that as tho ship was in chargo of a pilot nothing would bo said against tho officers. He (Mr. Gray) asked Uio Court to reconsider Us decision. j.»is Worship asked Mr. Bell whether he mado «uiy cluim on tho muster's certificato. Mr. Bell replied that ho had mado no suggestion in reference to the ccrtiflcaies of the captain or tho second officer. Mr. Gray explained that if Mr. Bell had matle any allegation against Captain Dixon he (Mr. Gray) would bavo addrww. Ed the Court on the point. Ho mibmitted timt from the statement presented to the Court' by tho Cwttunu authoritica thero was not the slightest auggcation of caroleisnefia or disregard for duty on l!io part of tho oilicers. Mr. Wcaton, avlio appeared for the relatives of tho Into Pilot M'lunuon, siiid that tho Court, might reconsider ita decision cooing that tno voyage from Glasgow to New Zealand was ttio first made by Captain Dixon to tho colonies, and that when the «.hip struck sho was in charge of a pilot. Mr. Rcll said it was quit© probable that when ha did not make any reference to Iho conduct of Captain Dixon Mr. Gray did uot think it necessary to address tho Court, as he undoubtedly would have done if he (Mr. Bell) had mado any buggestion of careleesncm Mr. Gray pointed out that there was no evidence* at the hearing to show neglect or carekKsness on the part of Captain Dixon in navigating the snip. Mr. Bell n&ked that Captain Dixon should be ordered to pay the costs. He whs of opinion that sullicient care had not been exercised in regard to the position of tho vesseji from time to time. After further discueeion his Worship said the Court wa« not- ticfl down to tho decision which it had just given, bub it still held to its opinion that the captain hail uot «ccrci«d sufficient care. Mr. Gray said the pilot was known to bo a thoroughly experienced man. To say thnt Captain Dixon wne to blame for not having taken soundings >vas stretching the captain's responsibility. Surely that was tho duty of th» pilot. Mr. Wcaton supgeswu that the Court might strike out of ite finding the suspension of the captain's certificate. xVfter consulting with tho assessors hi* Worship said ho still held the opinion thnt the captain was not relieved of his responsibility because thero was a pilot on bonrd, but it had been decided to alter tho lust sentence of the finding, so a« to read us follows :— "As the muster had on board a duly licensed and experienced pilot, I am of opinion that thci case, will bo met by ordering tho master to pay the crwtfl of the enquiry (£ls 11s). The certiliwte.l of the master and second officer aro returned." Tho Court then rose.

Tho electrophone, by means of which, a« tho cable told us, Mr. Chamberlain's r.innintfluun speech was reported in London, consists of four amnll boxes, not any luigei* th.-m the biggost size of domestic matchboxes, which, littuched to an ordinary telephone wire, nro placed in front of the speaker, and transmit tho sound for uimo&( >my distance. A feat somewhat .•ji in i lttr was performed by Uio Klectrophone Company during tho Dr. Jamrson trial. Recently, too, an opera vns transmitted from Tin is to the Company's office at (li'iT.wil-Mreot. London. Tho recent performance of "Pinafore" by the New Ply mouth Amateur Operatic Socich resulted in a oiofit of. £26.