MARINE COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1937, Page 5

MARINE COURT

CAPTAIN BLAMED FOR KAKARIKI COLLISION. (Australian Press Association.) MELBOURNE, February 12. The Marine Court announced its finding after hearing evidence in relation to the steamers Kakariki and Caradale’s collision. The Court held that the master of the Kakariki. Captain Thomas William White, was in default Tor failing to keep out of the way of the Caradale when, by his action in altering his course to port, the Rakariki became the crowding ship, with the Caradale on her, starboard bow, Captain White thus committed breaches of Clauses 19 and 22 respectively of the Navigation Collision Regulations. The Court,, however, found that Captain White had not been guilty of a gross act of misconduct, and added that had both ships kept to their respective courses, they , would have cleared each other on the port side, but the Kakariki altered her course to port, making a collision inevitable. CORONER'S VERDICT. MELBOURNE, February 12. The City Coroner held an inquiry into the deaths of three of the five members of the crew of the Kakariki lost when she sank in Port Phillip, and, after hearing evidence, found that the men had died of drowning By misadventure. UNION COMPANY SUED. £15,000 DAMAGES CLAIM. MELBOURNE, February 12. Claiming £15,000 for damages due to alleged negligence in the navigation and control of the Kakariki, the Janies Patrick Company. Ltd., owners of the Caradale, issued a writ against the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, arising out of the collision of the two vessels-.on January 29.