KAKARIKI DISASTER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 63, 13 February 1937, Page 9

KAKARIKI DISASTER.

FINDING BY COURT. MELBOURNE, Feb. 12. In the Marine Court finding at the inquiry into the collision between the Ivakariki and the Caradale near Port Phillip, resulting in the former sinking with the loss of five lives, the Court held the master of the Kakariki, Thomas William White, in default for failing to keep out of the way of the Carada.le wlien, by his action in altering his course to port, the Kakariki 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 was not guilty of a gross act of misconduct. . It added that had both ships kept their respective courses they would have cleared each other port side to port side, but the Kakariki altered her course to port, making a collision inevitable. ' .

The Citv Coroner held an inquiry into the deaths of three of the five of the crew of the Ivaka.riki and. after hearing evidence, found that the men had died of drowning l>v misadventure. Claiming £15,000 damages for alleged negligence in navigation and control of the Kakariki, James Patrick and Co., Ltd., owners of the Carada.le, have issued a writ against the Union Steam Ship Company arising out of the collision on January 29.