PILOT SUSPENDED

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 86, 10 January 1928, Page 8

PILOT SUSPENDED

RESULT OF SYDNEY HARBOUR COLLISION INQUIRY ALLEGED BREACH OF - REGULATIONS FIRST COMPENSATION CLAIM By Telegraph.— pbess Association. Copyright. (Rec. January 9, 7.40 p.m.) Sydney, January 9. The'Minister of Customs, Mr. H. E. Pratten, has announced, on behalf of the Federal and State authorities, who have been co-operating since the Greycliffe disaster, that as a result of the finding of Mr. Justice Campbell that the Tahiti, being the overtaking vessel, was solely to blame for the collision, the State Superintendent of Navigation has decided to suspend Captain Carson from duty for a breach of the collision regulations, and for exceeding the speed limit as laid down by the Sydney Harbour Trust regulations. With the approval of the Acting-Premier, a charge will be laid under the pilotage regulations against Captain Carson by the State authorities, Carson being a State officer. The charge will not be heard, however, until the Coroner has completed the inquest. Mr. Pratten added that the liability, if any, of the master and officers of the Tahiti was receiving careful consideration by the Federal authorities: The first writ in connection with the disaster has been issued by Mrs. Lee Brown, widow of Dr. Lee Brown, against the Union Steam Ship Company, claiming £5OOO compensation for the loss of her husband.

INQUEST RESUMED STEPS TO CHECK SPEED OF OUTGOING VESSELS (Rec. January 9, 11.10 p.m.) Sydney, January 9 The inquest on the victims of the Greycliffe disaster was resumed to-day, but contrary to expectations neither Captain Carson nor Captain Barnes was called. Captain Hildebrand, assistant-harbour-master, gave evidence that men were stationed at points around the harbour to check speed of certain outgoing deep-sea vessels, about which the Harbour Trust had been suspicious, and when found to be going at too great speed the Harbour Trust cautioned the ship. It was sometimes necessary to go beyond a caution. Witness added that he had never received a report about the speed of the Tahiti.