KOWHAI'S STRANDING

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 32, 7 August 1919, Page 4

KOWHAI'S STRANDING

BINDING OF THE COURT.

The finding of the Magisterial Court of Inquiry into the stranding of the s.s. Kowhai, on.the 9th June last, -was announced yesterday afternoon by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., who presided. The Court found that the course set by the master at 4.5 a.m. was a reasonably safe one, and it could not see what copld have caused the vessel to run i ashore where it did if that course had been followed. The master did not con- j tribute to the casualty, but the Court considered, that if the chief officer (J. B. Clarke) had remained on the bridge and kept a good look out instead of goJ ing to the chart-room for a cup of tea, he might have been able to see the danger in time to avoid it. The chief j officer's certificate would be suspended for three months, and he (the chief officer) would be required to pay one-half the costs of the inquiry. The second officer (C. J. Anderson) was exonerated from any blame. Mr. Blair (representing the two officers) raised the point that under section 238 of the Shipping and Seamen Act, sub-section 5, a certificate could not be cancelled or suspended unless a copy of the report or statement of the case -on, which the investigation or inquiry Tiad been ordered had been furnished before the commencement of the inquiry ov investigation to the holder of the certificate. In this case such a conrse had not been followed, the chief officer having only been served with the statement that day, and the inquiry had opened on Monday. The technical point was;upheld by Mr. Riddell, and that part of the decision relating to the suspension of the certificate was. deleted. The assessors were Captains W. Man•ning and F. Black. , Mr. J. Prendeville appeared for the Marine Department, I and Mr. S. Kirkcaldie for. Captain Dinsmore (master of the vessel).