SINKING OF DOLPHIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1939, Page 5

SINKING OF DOLPHIN

MILITARY COURT INQUIRY (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, October 13. The inquiry into the sinking of the launch Dolphin by the Military Court was private, but Lyttelton Harbour Board officials were present. Mr. T. Martin, Lyttelton agent for the New Zealand Seamen’s Federation, of which the fishermen are now members, was also present, and was permitted to question the witnesses. Before concluding, the Court adjourned to the home of AW Willman, the survivor of the tragedy, and obtained his evidence. Members of the Court were: Major H. W. D. Blake, Royal New Zealand Artillery, president; Lieutenant C. T. E. McLean, Royal New Zealand Artillery, and Captain J. T. Burrows, Rifle Battalion, Special Force, Burnham. Officers from Army headquarters who also made investigations were Lieu-tenant-Colonel Q. H. Mead, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.A.. Captain J. P. Joyce, D.C.M., R.N.Z.A., and Lieutenant-Commander E. K. H. St. Aubyn, D.S.C., R.N. Although the Court will report direct to Colonel P. H. Bell, Officer Commanding the Southern Military District, its findings will be announced, if deemed necessary, by the Minister for Defence (Mr. Jones). FISHERMEN’S PROTEST The sinking of the Dolphin was discussed to-day by six of the leading fishermen of Kaikoura, who passed the following motion: “We protest in the strongest terms against the shooting tragedy at Lyttelton and propose that all voluntary help to naval and other authorities be withdrawn until all danger of further shooting is removed to the satisfaction of fishermen.”

A meeting of Lyttelton fishermen has been convened for to-morrow by Air. T. Martin. At this meeting it is probable that suggestions will be made to the authorities for the greater safety, of fishermen using the port. These will probably include suggestions that the examination steamer should be relieved by another vessel when it is necessary for the former to come into port, and that the steamer should be stationed further down the harbour, near the heads. This afternoon the Harbour Board’s diver, J. Canning, went down and searched the Dolphin for Brasell’s body. After a search lasting about an hour, he reported that the body was not in the launch. Apparently it had been washed out of the engine-room, after the Dolphin sank. At low tide to-day, the tops of the Dolphin’s masts were just visible, about 200 yards from the shore. SALVAGE OPERATIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, October 14. Salvage operations were begun today; in an effort to raise the sunken Dolphin. It is hoped that the piledriver’s powerful hoisting gear will be capable of pulling the Dolphin to the surface. Thus supported, she* will then be towed into port by a tug. One theory of the sinking, which is gaining some support in Lyttelton, is that the Dolphin was sunk by a riccochet, and not by a direct hit. A workman on the dredge Canterbury, is said to have been watching” the Dolphin as she sailed towards the fort, and saw the gun fired. He says that he saw something splash in the water on the landward side of the vessel a moment before she was hit.