MAORI-ZITA COLLISION

Evening Star, Issue 17927, 24 March 1922, Page 4

MAORI-ZITA COLLISION

[Feu United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, March 24. Tho inquiry into the collision between tho ferry steamer .Maori and tho schooner Zifa was held yesterday. Captain liana Johansen, master of tho Zita, said ho was called at 4.10 a.m. on February 26 in a Jinny, and found that the .steamer was crossing his bow from starboard to pert. Tho Zita was on the port tack. The steamer carried away her bowsprit, figurehead, and part of tho starboard bulwarks, besides smashing seven stanchions. John Williamson, mate of tho Zita, said at 3.49 tie picked up the steamer’s lights two points to port, about fivo or six miles away. At 4 a.m. the sLearner was still on the Zita’s port bow. Mho kopfc on till sho was on tho Zita's starboard bow; then altered her course to starboard. Witness gave the order “ Hard a-starboard,” when lie saw the collision was likely, hut his vessel had such little way on that sho was slow in answering the holm. The Maori was steaming about fifteen knots—sho usual speed. Had tho respective courses been followed there, would have boon no collision. Witness had been an officer on. tho Maori for nine months. After passing (took Strait the Maori had no necessity to idler her course. She first, alteml her course three points, and then made a luilfcircle before colliding with the Zita. Ho heard no signal from the .Maori when she was approaching. Gapta in Irwin, of the Maori, said ho was called at 4.12 a.m. The chief officer told him that the Maori had just collided with a schooner. Witness got hack to iho schooner as quickly as possible, hut was informed that she was all right-. He proceeded to .Lyttelton. (Jn examining his ship there lie found that the vessel .ai>peared to have been struck fairly heavily on the port quarter, hut there wore no denis.

Tiobert George Coyle, second officer of the .Maori, said that- bo was on duty from 12 to 4 o’clock. 'The weather was olcur. At 4 a.in, he had :i good look round with his glasses, but could coo nothing. Trade lights w ar... rnppo-ito bo scon at two miles. At fi.i'l bo heard the Wabino founding her fog .signals. There were patches of fog inshore. George LrothcHon Morgan, chief officer of 11k* Maori, deposed that bo went on duty at 4 a.m. About 4.10 witness pig) I'd a red light n point and a-lmlf on tho .starboard bow. Ho gave the, order to “ Port,” t-Iu to “Port good,” then, “ Hard a-port.” The positions were so close that witness could do notbim; but keep idea Maori on the port h-olrn and try to got across tho Zitas bow. Had; bo altered tho helm bo would havo rammed the Zita. Witness only caw tho vessel about two minutes bolero tho collision, when she was two miles away,—Crossexamined : Witness said that if both vessels bad kept their cornvo the.ro would have boon £oft between them. Ho did not sco the Zita because ebo was in tho fringe of a fog bank, and she could ikic further out of it than ho could see into it.

After evidences by tho lookout end tho helmsman of tho Maori had been heard, tho court hold neither captain blameworthy, and returned their cortitkatoß. Tho court was asked to take into consideration whether iho action of either captain bird contributed towards tho collision. Judgment was reserved.