RUAHINE-DUCHESS COLLISION

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 194, 14 August 1920, Page 14

RUAHINE-DUCHESS COLLISION

THE INQUIRY ADJOURNED.

(By Telegraph—.Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Friday.

% magisterial inquiry opened to-day into the circumstances connected with the collision that occurred between the New Zealand Shipping Co.'s RuaMne (lying at the wharf) and the Eastbourne Borough Council's ferry steamer Duchess (coming from Rona Bay) in a fog recently. Mr. B- K. Kirkcaldie (for Cap(tain Lowry, of the Duchess) contended that the Court was improperly constituted, as only one of the two assessors ■was a master mariner, the other being an engineer. In this case no engineer's certificate was involved, ar,d therefore both assessors should be nautical men. He asked for an adjournment of the inquiry, •in order that representations might be made in the proper quarter. - Mr- A. W. Blair, who appeared for the of the Duchess, supported Mr. view, and submitted that the was mandatory in that respect. Mr. "trendeville, counsel for the Crown, agreed to an adjournment to enable a third assessor, to be appointed. Mr. Riddle, S.M., said the engineer Jmight become involved, and as such he ;Tas entitled to an engineer's certificate. The Court as constituted was compe--tent to deal with: the case of the engineer, "but not with default in the case of the and it was therefore necessary to appoint another nautical man.

The case was adjourned sine die.