STRANDING OF THE JESSIE READMAN.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8729, 27 February 1894, Page 5

STRANDING OF THE JESSIE READMAN.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, February 26. The inquiry into the stranding of the Jessie Headman at Chatham Islands in December laab was resumed this after* noonCaptain 'Romerill, maater of the steamer Kahu, which trades to the Chatham Islands, gave evidence as to the currents in. the vicinity of the islands. There was a local current, he stated, not shown on any of the charts, and which would on the average carry a vessel nineteen miles out of her courae on the trip from New Zealand to the islands. If he wanted to dear the south end of the island on the trip from Napier he would allow about twenty miles for the current. Captain Burton, recalled, stated: that iv steering hia course he had arranged to pass about twenty-eight or thirty milch to the south of the islands. Thia cloaed the evidence. ■Mr Martin, R.M., delivered judgment of the Courb as follows:—" I am of opinion -hat the master oi the ship committed an error of judgment in continuing, when he found he was unable to verify his position by observation, a course vfhioh, as origin* ally laid down, without making any allowance for ocean set to north and east, only left a margin of safety of aome twenty-five miles. The maater was on deck during the night preceding the casualty and waa the first to see danger, and he did all a seaman could on discovering the dangerous position hia ship was in, and he landed hia crew in safety. The evidence shows that a current of considerable and varying, strength sets towards the Cbathams and that on the coast of the islands the currents are most dan--, gerons, and it is very desirable tbat tne attention of mariners should be drawn to these facts. The decision of the Court is that tbe master's certificate should be returned to him, but he should pay the casts, of this inquiry."