HARBOUR COLLISION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 96, 24 April 1926, Page 14

HARBOUR COLLISION.

INQUIRY TO BE REHEARD.

WAINUI AND IRIS EILEEN.

LAUNCH OWNER'S' APPEAL,

A rehearing of the marine inquiry into the circumstances of the collision between the - Union . Company's coastal steamer Wainui and the fishing launch Iris Eileen, in which the smaller vessel was holed and sunk, in the Rangitoto Channel on the night of July 7 of last year, will take place on Monday next. The rehearing will be the first of its kind to be heard at Auckland for nearly nine years.

Captain Barron, of Wellington, and Captain Waite, of Auckland, have been appointed assessors, and Mr. Selwyn Mays' will represent the owner of the Iris Eileen, Albert Laurence O'Brien, and Mr. A. Moody the master of the Wainui, Captain S. A. Chatfield.

It will he remembered "/fat following the collision the occupants of the launch were picked up by the Wainui and brought back to Auckland. Two days after the mishap the sunken launch was brought, into the harbour with the incoming tide and beach in shallow water, the salvage operations being carried out, without prejudice, by the Union Steamship Company.

An'inquiry was held on August 11 and 12,- the Court finding that the collision had been caused by the master of the Iris Eileen failing to port his helm when he was aware that the Wainui was turning and showing all navigational lights, there being ample time for him so to do. The Court also found that the- master of the Iris Eileen had' failed to observe the regulations for the prevention of collisions at sea. •

Further, the' Court was of the opinion that, Rangitoto Beacon being the recognised turning point, it ■ behoved the masters of incoming launches to exercise great care at that place. No order was made, the certificate of the .master of the Wainui 'being returned.

The rehearing of the inquiry is the outcome of an appeal by the. owner, of the launch against the Court's decision.