EPISODE AT SEA

Feilding Star, Volume 6, Issue 1312, 25 January 1928, Page 6

EPISODE AT SEA

COURT’S FINDING

CON DU CT E XEMT’LAK Y

NO BLAAIE ATTACH ABLE

'TO OFFICERS OH CHEW

SIXKJ.NO of a steamek

(Per Press Association)

Auckland, Jan. Ai

An inquiry into tlie sinking of the Uiun AlaeWilliam in \ avu harbour, Tonga, on Christ mas niorning was held /at the British. Residency ; Nukualofa, on January 9

steamer caught fire while loading copra and alter he> officers and crew had heroically fought' the flames lor many hours she. sank, the- captain and chief engineer being drowned.

The Court delivered its finding on January 9. It was unable to determine the origin of the fire but found that the copra appeared to nave been prupertly. stowed and the hold adequately ventilated. It also held that every possible step was taken t (J save the ship >nd that the conduct of the master, cfiiecrs and crow was exemplary, no blame being attachable to anyone. Hoarding the captain, Mr William Thompson, ami the chief engineer, Air Disinngton. the Court stated: “Throughout the fire these two officers directed operation's in

calm and collected ■manner, and tin ’ Court in placing- on record its Tig I, opinion of their conduct extends its sympathy to the relatives bereaved.”

The above report shows that the earlier published l jic.com.obtained from officers of the Niagara who had intercepted wireless messages on the subject was incorrect in some important particulars, especially in. statements that the vessel was alongside tile wharf, that the port authorities ordered her into the stream, and that the white officers and the Las-

car crew ref'usecl to man her, <ieclarnig tliiit she was unsafe.