NORTHUMBERLAND INQUIRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 March 1927, Page 4

NORTHUMBERLAND INQUIRY.

COUNT TO GIVE DECISION TO-DAY.

r emeu ha. ph— pitffiss association.) AUCKLAND. Al-arch 10.

When the Northumberland inquiry Was resumed to-day Peter Booth Clark_ chief officer, gave evidence that after tlie ship struck he went fo- the chart house and asked the -captain where the ship was. The captain' at once -pointed to- a spot on the chart. Witness noticed that the course had been laid down on the chart and the cross bearings pencilled thereon. Evidence was given by Captains Hartman (Tamaro-a), Williams (Afahia) and Smith (retired) that the channel inside the Ariel Rocks had been regarded as quite .safe. The last-named said the custom was for the cross-bear-ings to be noted on a chart, but . not on the logbook. The -beam, -bearings were -invariably entered-. Air. Aloody, addressing the Court on behalf of Captain Broughton, submitted there was no- reason for the captain to have deviated from his counse. All the evidence wias consistent with him having kept correct bearings. Air. Meredith, for the Alanine Department, said the evidence as to the ship being on the course set was- definite. Captain Boltons, master of tlie Tutanekni. which spent five -days’ fruitless -search for the suggested rock, could not definitely state there could h-a-ve been no- rook at the point stated. Tlie decision, will be aiven to-morrow.