"EXCITING SOUNDS INCI'-DENT"

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 61, 13 March 1916, Page 6

"EXCITING SOUNDS INCI'DENT"

[to the editor.]

Sir,-—Would, you allow me space in your •■columns to givo an idea of tho incident, in the Sounds reported in your issue of March Bth under the heading or "An Ebtciting.Sounds incident.'' T don Jt think that the Giifirdian'js informant is quite fair to one of • lie parties concerned. To my knowledge both boats were carrying lights- but possibly not the regulation lights-. The fishing boat was travelling on her right course. Being a following boat she was running on the starboard q,uarter of the steamer; which ought to have meant complete safety for her. The boat returning p-oni Havelock: made the mistake of not passing to port of the steamer. If she had done this and passed, on her fight side there would have been no accident; but passing to starboard, rmd the bouts being in the position "ohey wore, it was almost impossible to avoid a collision, and*the steersman of tl\e fishing craft did the only tiling possible to savo ■ .his own boat irom damage and make it as light for the other as well. The Guardian stutes that opth boats were damaged' above thi) water-line. Having,examined both boats■ sincel the incident I find that they were-not damaged' in the least. I also am unaware that any la.dies were aboard either boat, but might possibly be1 mistaken in that particular. The Guardian's informant states that the poor tired' fishermen had to .put in four hours oil the mud on a falling1: tide. About one hour and a quarter was the extent of the wait for the tide: A story of this particular ,type does'not get smaller by travelling, it is iriie; but being a witness of the incident I r-annot help giving my version of the affair. Of course, practically speaking, the drivers of the Taunchos were both to blame through1 not carrying the regulation side light. WITNESS.