SHIPS’ COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 105, 27 January 1933, Page 10

SHIPS’ COLLISION

Napier Harbour Fatality INQUIRY COMMENCES Inquest in Conjunction EVIDENCE OF CAPTAIN By Telegraph.—Press Association. Napier, Jan. 26. The Marine inquiry into the disaster at the inner entrance of the Napier harbour on December 28, when the launch Doris containing 31 watersillers, collided with the Richardson , Company’s Tn Atu, and sank with the loss of ten lives, was opened today before Mr. , M. Mowlem, S.M. With him were associated as marine assessors, Captain J. W. . Holmes and Captain L. C. H. Warrail. The inquest into the deaths of the ten men was held in conjunction with the inquiry. Captain William Martin, master of the Tu Atu, said that when proceeding down the west side of the channel he saw a white light from the launch Doris. Keeping it in view for some time without noticing any variation in its colour, witness suddenly saw the light flash across his bow, and a second or two later the launch was struck. Eric Mentzer, who was In charge ofthe Doris on the night of the tragedy, said on seeing the lights in the channel he thought them at first to be those of some vessel stuck on its bottom in the channel. As he approached the lights of the Tu Atu swung more over to his starboard bow. The Tu Atu was on the west side of the channel, and witness considered he could’not have passed on the west side of the other vessel as he might have run on the rocks. He saw'the red light of the Tu Atu a moment before the collision.