LOSS OF FISHING TRAWLER

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27415, 30 July 1954, Page 12

LOSS OF FISHING TRAWLER

EVIDENCE TO COURT OF INQUIRY

(New Zealand Press Association) WEI.T.TNCtTTPV July 29 The opinion that an ’unexoected easterly tide set of about two knots and a half nut the trawler Phyllis ashore on Waikanae Beach bn the morning of June 8, was expressed by the skipper, Mr G. T. Baker, before a Court of Inquiry today into the strand- . Since the previous afternoon, up till Just before the stranding, all deck hands, including himself, had been working on the repair of the trawl. . Ra l n .._ had cau sed bad visibility throughout the evening. He considered he had been deceived by the sighting of the lights of Paraparumu through the haze at 11.30 pun. He had thought the lights were at least eight miles distant. The coastline wa< low lying, with no land marks, and no navigational lights. Aircraft beacon lights on Paraparaumu airport were working only intermittently, and had stooped about 1130 p.m. The mate, William Donaldson Falconer, told the Court that he was on deck most of the time, and the weather was thick and heavy. The skipper had kept a good look-out as they mended the nets. The discovery of shallow water was sudden, as there were no previous indications. He considered every effort had been made to clear the surf. _The inquiry will continue tomorrow. The Court comprises Mr J. B. Thomson, S.M.. Captain C. C. Bullock, and Mr J. Cardno, master of a fishing trawler.