GREYCLIFFE TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1927, Page 2

GREYCLIFFE TRAGEDY

COURT OF INQUIRY. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] SYDNEY, Nov. 17. 'Tlie Greycliffe inquiry was resumed to-day. AATu. Bryant, chief petty officer on the destroyer Success, gave evidence that lie was accustomed to estimate higher speeds of vessels from fourteen knots. On the day of the collision lie was on the pontoon at Garden Island. AVhen the Tahiti passed she was nearer in than was usually the ease, and doing about twelve knots. After the Tahiti passed, the pontoon rocked as it had never rocked before. This was caused by the Tahiti passing. The Greycliffe and the Tahiti appeared to he converging. Then the Greycliffe altered her course in such a way as made the vessels converge quicker, and fifteen seconds later the collision occurred. Then, with models and a chart, witness showed how the Greycliffe, after changing her course, had crossed the Tahiti and was struck on the port quarter by the how of the liner. Just before the accident, witness added, he saw steam come from the side of the Tahiti, indicating two blasts of the whistle.

AValter Halliwell. petty officer on the Success, gave evidence that he was also on the pontoon at Garden Island on the day of the collision. He saw the Greycliffe alter jier course. She appeared to he drifting sideways to the port. The wind was very slight. He observed the drifting movement when the ferry was four hundred yards from the pontoon, and it went on continuously until the collision. The Tahiti bad passed the pontoon, travelling about twelve knots, and appeared to he making up speed and heading on the same course as the Greyclifie. After describing the swirling water around the pontoon, as the Tahiti passed, witness said he had not observed a similar condition before, as big overseas boats did not usually pass so close to the pontoon. AAT'tness added he could only account for the collision by the drift of the Greycliffe.