NAUTICAL INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3032, 20 March 1917, Page 8

NAUTICAL INQUIRY

THE.COLLISION AT GISBOB-NE. By TelegTapb.—Press Assooiati{on. Auokland, March 19. At the nautical inquiry into tho circumstances of tho collision of the Arahura and a Homo liner at Gisborne roadstead, Captain' Goddard,■ of tho liner, recalled, stated that lie wished to correct the statement regarding tho position of his ship. She did not leavo her anchorage at all prior to tho collision.

Captain Dryden, of the Arahnra, recalled, said that as ho saw tho green light he felt that it was tho liner's duty to keep clear of him. Howard Towno Fell, chief officer of the Home liner, said that ho did not see tho Arahura after dark on the day of the collision, as she was hidden by the Wimmera. When ho reported to ♦he master that tho cargo was finished he received orders to lift the anchor, and as tho stock came out of tho water ho reported 'anchor aweigh."' He turned and noticed that the navigation lights came on almost immediately. The anchor was heaved into the hawser pipe, and as witness turned round lie noticed the Arahura on the starboard Bide mailing towards the liner.. She was well clear of the liner's how, because only ono of her side lights was visible. He continued to watch tho vessel, and (lid not notice any alteration in her course until tho ships were close together. He thought the Arahura would be travelling at from five to six knots ahead towards the liner. Tho vessel had gone about half past tho liner whe'n she struok their stem. She scraped past, touching all the time. When ho first saw tho Arahura she was between 200 and 300 yards away. He did not hear anyone call out or renort to tho captain that the ship was bearing down on the liner. It would be about a. counlo of minutes after the anchor was home when the Arahura struck the liner. He did not report to tho captain when he first saw the Araliura. as he considered that the master hod seen her. Tho only vessel that the lir.er look steps to warn thwt sl'.o was going to sea was the tugboat, and he had not heard of any custom in Gisborne of vessels about to go out giving signals to other ships. John Cowel! Greaves, third officer on tbo Home linw, said that he was on the bridge. Hβ saw the masthead lights and tho red light on the Arahnra as she rounded th?, Wimmora's bow. The inquiry adjourned until to-mor-row. ■ ■ ~