HARBOUR TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 87, 11 January 1928, Page 8

HARBOUR TRAGEDY

DISCUSSED BY MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD

JUDGE’S FINDING CRITICISED

“INVOLVED A PHYSICAL IMPOSSIBILITY”

(Rec. January 10, 8.50 p.m.)' Sydney, January 10. A meeting of twenty-five shipmasters at the Merchant Service Guild adopted a resolution that Mr. Justice Campbell’s finding in connection with the Greycfiffe disaster involved a physical impossibility, inasmuch as it was impossible for the Tahiti to approach the Greycliffe from any direction from 10 degrees to 90 degrees on the port quarter and to bring about an impact with the Greycliffe with any part of the except her stem. Captain Lawrence, general secretary of the Merchant Service Guild, said there was no mark anywhere on ’he port quarter of the Greycliffe indicating or corresponding to a blow from the Tahiti’s stem.

The shipmasters also expressed the opinion that if a collision were brought about by the Tahiti with her stem striking the Greycliffe to 20 degrees, as found by the Court, it would not cause the Greycliffe to take up a position which would eventually and shortIv afterwards allow the Tahiti to again strike the Greycliffe at an angle of fi cm 45 to 70 degrees at a spot on the side of the Greycliffe 40 feet ahead of the place where the' Court held the first impact took place. The meeting also determined tint the position should not be allowed to remain as it is, and further meetings are to be held.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST SAILING DIRECTIONS OBSOLETE (Rec. January 10, 11.5 p.m.) Sydney, January 10. At the Greycliffe inquest Captain Hildebrand, first assistant harbourmaster, gave evidence that the sailing directions for Sydney Harbour, which were issued by the State Navigation Department, were obsolete. He preferred to rely on his own local knowledge. He added that more often than not the sailing directions were not observed by outward-bound vessels. The navigation Department was now preparing new directions.