HARBOUR DISASTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 74, 7 January 1928, Page 5

HARBOUR DISASTER.

THE INQUIRY IN SYDNEY. JUDGMENT DELIVERED TO-DAY. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) * SYDNEY, January 6. Counsel's addresses at the Greycliffe enquiry have concluded, and judgment a,s to the causes of the collision is to be delivered to-morrow. y Mr W. A. Holman (counsel 1 for the Commonwealth Director of Navigation) addressing the Court, said that the evidence of the Tahiti's personnel tended to show that the Greycliffe was almost in contact with the larger vessel when, a double ring to stop was given to the Tahiti's engine room. The Greycliffe must have been under the liner's bows within fifteen seconds of any change of course. An analysis of the facts showed that the Tahiti was already in dangerous proximity to the ferry before the latter made a turn, if any. If the story of the change of course were to be accepted, it must be accounted for in one o:- two ways: One was that there was some change of course by Captain Barnes for some reason, and the other was that there must have been an. involuntary change of course caused iby the bow wave of the Tahiti. The only other hypothesis was that the Tahiti deliberately ran the Greycliffe down.. It was submitted by Mr Holman that the pilot on the Tahiti determined' to take the risk of a close shave, and to take the risk of getting through by the narrowest margin. Mr Justice Campbell interrupted, and said there was no question of deliberate intention to take a risk. So far as he saw the situation there was no question of a deliberate choice between a dangerous course and a safe one. He saw no leason to think such had come into, the matter at all.

Mr Holman concluded by submitting that the Court would find that the Tahiti was travelling at an excessive speed but that proper steps were taken on the liner after the collision.