MISHAPS TO COASTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 10, 13 January 1932, Page 10

MISHAPS TO COASTERS

INQUIRIES TO; BE HELD

Approval of; tho holding of formal inquiries before a Stipendiary Magistrate and "assessors into the mishaps to the coastal vessels Storm and Breeze on 18th December has been given by the Minister of. Marine, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe. The inquiries'; for which the assessors, have, not.yet. been appointed, wHI be hold at Christehurch, and the dates will be iked after the assessors h*ve been chosen.

The mishaps: which befell the Storm and the Breeze, both of, which , are owned by the Canterbury Steam Ship Company, form one of the most unusual coincidences that have.occurred in New Zealand waters for some, years. Both were bound, for Lyttelton, the Storm from Dunedin and-Timaru, .and the Breeze from Wellington. A. thick mist enveloped practically the whole of the Dominion that night, and at 1 a.m. tho Storm struck a submerged object off Akaroa Peninsula. Although making water she was. able to reach Lyttelton later in tho morning under her own power. The Breeze apparently got off her courso in the fog, and about 7 a.m. ran ashore at Port Robinson. She was refloated without assistance, and, with her pumps .working at full pressure, reached Lyttelton unaided.* Both vessels were; decked and \were found to be more, or l«ss. seriously damaged. The Storm is being rejgired, but the Breeze is to end her.c^jler as a target for naval gunfire.,,.\;