YACHT SUNK

Evening Star, Issue 22351, 29 May 1936, Page 14

YACHT SUNK

MIDNIGHT COLLISION CLAIM FOR DAMAGES [Per United Press Association.] BLENHEIM, Mav 28. While on a holiday cruise in tho Marlborough .Sounds, tho well-known Wellington yacht Nanette was involved in a dramatic night collision with a settler’s launch in mid-sound, and was badly holed by tho impact. The Nanette sank like a stone a matter of minutes after the party aboard her had scrambled to safety on the launch. The accident occurred in Kencpuru Sound, when both tho yacht and the launch were bound forTe Mahia, a holiday resort. Tho Nanette was subsequently raised and repaired. As a sequel to tho collision, which happened on December 20. a civil action was taken in the Magistrate’s Court at Picton to-dav, when J. C. Madderver. clerk, of Wellington, owner of the Nanette, claimed £l7O damages from Orchard Bros,, launch proprietors, _ Kencpuru Sound, alleging negligence in the navigation of their launch, the Whareata, which hit the Nanette when travelling about 9 ni.p.h. The plaintiff contended that tho defendants had been negligent; first, in failing to keep or cause to bo kept, a sufficient look-out; secondly, failing to observe tho Nanette and" alter their course to avoid a collision ; and thirdly, failing to keep their vessel under proper control, having regard to the likely presence of other craft in the vicinity. The allegations were denied by the defendants, who counter-claimed for £42 10s. work done allegedly at the request of the plaintiff. After lengthv evidence had been heard the magistrate reserved his decision.