BREEZE INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1932, Page 6

BREEZE INQUIRY

FURTHER EVIDENCE

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. Further evidence concerning the setting of the course of the Breeze off Cape Campbell on the night before she grounded at Gore Bay on December 18, was given when tlie former master of the Breeze, Captain McArthur, was examined at the Nautical inquiry to-day. Alterations in the rough log book were also the subject of much questioning.

Maurice Michael McArthur, of Dunedin, said he turned in shortly after 9 p.m. before which he asked the mate what was the time. At Cape Campbell the ship had been out lour points. After witness had turned in the mate told him that Cape Campbell was abeam. AYutuess then made a calculation on the time of 48 minutes between the bearings and told the mate that the ship would he about 61 miles from off the Cape or a little more. Witness told the mate to alter the course but did not see the mate make an entry in the log. Witness did not notice the alteration in the log hook until the sitting of the inquiry. He would have the log and also the mate’s hook before him when writing up the official log at Lyttelton about two days later. He would not have had reason to refer to the entries in the rough log when in Lyttelton. AAhtness noticed a mistake in the second mate’s log book which said that the ship was going “slow”, when “full speed” had been ordered. AY’itness would not say that it was usual to change the course at Cape Camplull as a straight course could he steered from AA r ellingtoii to Lyttelton. The average speed of the Breeze was from 8) to 9 knots, but with a northerly set the speed would be retarded.

Crown Solicitor: AVere you not surprised then that at Cape Campbell the ship had covered 341 miles in 33 hours.

Witness: 1 was not greatly surprised, because the distance is actually 33 miles and under favourable conditions it could be done. The course on the chart before the Court was plotted by witness in Lyttelton after the accident. The Chairman: Do you know that if you were 21 miles off Cape Campbell and took the same hearings you would land in Gore Bay. The suggestion is that after the accident you worked it hack on the chart so that it would show that you were 61 miles off Cane Campbell. The suggestion is that- the alteration in the Log book was made to give effect to this.

YA'itness: That is entirely wrong

The Chairman: You swear that you know nothing of the alteration of the

entry in the log hook. AY’itness: I know nothing about it, (Proceeding).