DUNEDIN HARBOUR COLLISION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 190, 6 May 1908, Page 9

DUNEDIN HARBOUR COLLISION.

' DECISION OF. THE NAUTICAL COURT. tBY TELEaiurn—PRESS - ASSOCIATION, f Dunctiin, May 5.. In the Magistrate's Court\this morning Mr. C. C. Graham, S.M., delivered the decision'of'tho Nautical Court respecting the collision between • the defence l steamer Lady Roberts 1 and the Matakana, motor, fishing boat, on tho night of ApriH.B, in tho -lotfer harbour. Tho Court's decision" was' as follows:— /•. .. .' In reply to tho Questions'stated.'in .tho' notice of investigation we find — (1) That motor launch Matakana carried no life-buoys or belti whatever on tlio,.occa-. sion referred to. ... • (2) That the said motorTlaunch had only, one lantern on board, but it was not lit. (3) That Joseph' Coddoi, y master of the launch, was guilty of nogligence'in the navigation of tho launch, inasmuch as ho entrusted the steering, of the boat'to ono or moro irresponsible porsons, and did not keep a proper look-out. (4) That Henry Cashman was not guilty of negligonco in the navigation of 'the steamer. Further, we consider tho collision was solely due,to error of judgment on tho part of Joseph Coddoi, who, when finding his boat so floso up to tho Lady Roberts, being then on the starboard sido .of her, did not continue his course on that side, but suddenly ported his helm,, and weiit a-starboard, thus running right across tho . bows of the Lady Roberts .when it was too close to avoid a collision, wo being of opinion that if lie liad continued on tho courso ho was steering, ho would havo passed tho Lady Roberts,at a perfectly safo distance. We consider that Joseph Coddoi is justly liable to pay tho costs.of this inquiry, but seeing that ho is a poor man, and has lost his boat, which is his sole means of livelihood, wc leave this question to the favourable consideration of tho Government. AYo further desire to express our opinion that the regulations with regard to the carrying of lights should' be strictly enforced in futuro on all occasions. The costs amounted to £13.