WRECK OF THE MURITAI.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 233, 25 June 1908, Page 8

WRECK OF THE MURITAI.

FINDING 'OF THE NAUTICAL COURT, (BY TELEGRAPH.—PP.ESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland,. June 24. The Nautical Court of'lnquiry, consisting if ,Mr. Kettle, S.M., and Captains Reid and ilrawfordj this gave its finding as i result'of the formal investigation into the ircumstances surrounding the wreck of tho teamship Muritai, owned by the Northern iteamship Company, on the . Hen and Ihickens group of islands on May 27. Havngregard to the whole circumstances, Mr. Settle said that the Court was of opinion the wreck could not be attributed to ,tho compass. _ Further, they were of opinion that tho captain should have given instructions io bp called: when rounding Tutukaka, know,ng the second not experienced. The second mate did not comply with the Collision regulations, and. should have slackened his speed or stopped the vessel altogether before running into the thick fog. .The Court found the second mate guilty of culpable neglcct and breach of the regulations. They ordered that' his : certificate bo suspended for twelve months, and that ho pay half the costs of the inquiry. Tho captain would be ordoredj to pay the other half of the costs. Tho Court would not deal with the captain's certificate, as he was a careful and experienced seaman, but the Court; considered .that ho should have been on the bridge when Tutukaka was rounded.