ARAHURA COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3029, 16 March 1917, Page 6

ARAHURA COLLISION

THE NAUTICAL INQUIRY

CAPTAIN DRYDEN'S EVIDENCE

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, March 15. The nautical inquiry into the collision at Gisborne between the Arahura and a Homo liner was continued to-day. Captain Dryden, of the Arahura, said he judged from th.o liner's lights that she was still at anchor when the Arahura left her moorings. The Arahura was inside of tho Wimmera on the starboard bow, a full two cables' length from that vessel. AVhen ho saw the liner moving ijhcad she w-is very nearly- half a mile'awa.y, bearing two points on his port bow. Witness retained his course and speed, as a crossing sliip, till 11 o'clock, when ho put his helm hard aport. He expected tile liner to £et out of tho way till about a hundred yards away, when he saw that a collision was imminent. Ho then altered his courso to starboard. Captain _ Dryden, cross-examined, said that it was his duty to keep tho course. The liner should have taken a course to clear tho Arahura. _ Witness assumed that it was tho liner's headway that caused her to strike the Arahura the second timo. When 200_ yards off. witness realised that a collision was imminent. At that distance, had tho liner assisted, the' shins would have cleared each other. Joseph Cable, chief engineer of the Arahura, said ir„ evidence, that the orders received for the preliminary examination of the damage wore obeved promptly. Dryden had complete command of the situation. Arthur White, chief engineer on the liner, gave evidence as to orders received. Captain Goddard, master of the Home liner, m answer to a question yesterday, said there were no regulations ho knew of that notice should ho given by one vessel to another of its intention lift anchor or to proceed to sea. This was mutilated in a previous report.,