COURT FINDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 9

COURT FINDING.

COLLISION INQUIRY.

Master of Kakariki Held to be In Default. DAMAGES CLAIM FOLLOWS. United Press Association.—Copyright. . MELBOURNE, February 12. The Marine Court which inquired into the collision between the Kakariki and the Caradale on January 30 in Port Phillip Harbour issued its finding to-day. The Court held that the master of the kakariki, Captain Thomas William White, was in default through failing to keep out of the way of the Caradale when by his action in altering his course to port the Kakariki became the crowding ship with the Caradale on her starboard bow. The Court found that Captain White thus committed breaches of the navigation and ' collision regulations. The Court, however, found that Captain White was not guilty of a gross act of misconduct.

The judgment added that had both ships kept to their respective courses they would have cleared eacli other port side to port side, but the Kakariki altered her course to port, making the collision inevitable.

Claiming flo,ooo damages for alleged negligence in the navigation and control of the Kakariki, James Patrick and Company, Limited, owners of the Caradale, have issued a writ against the Union Steam Slim Company arising out of the collision. V

The City Coroner to-day held an inquest into the deaths of three of the five members of the crew of the Kakariki who perished in the collision with the Caradale. He returned *a verdict that the men died by drowning through misadventure.