TRANDING OF THE ANTIOPES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17284, 27 September 1916, Page 8

TRANDING OF THE ANTIOPES

[Pee Phess Assocxmcwr.] INVERCARGILL, September 26

A magisterial inquiry with regard to the stranding of the barque Antiopeat Bluff was held to-day. After hearing evidence, the members of the Court (Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., Captains Reed and Patterson, nautical assessors) decided that for some reason not sum} ciently explained the barque took a sudden sheer to port when passing the lightship while being towed by the tug, with the result that she went aground before the'tug could do anything to avert it. As far as there was evidence to guide them, they were of opinion that the stranding was caused by a pure misadventure of the sea. It might be that if there had been more local knowledge on the part of the captain of the barque, or that if a local pilot had been steering, the accident might not have occurred; On that, however, they could not express an opinion. They held that the captain and officers of the Antiope were m no way to blame for the disaster, and their certificates were ordered to here-' turned. •' ~■■" '