Inquiry into Napier Harbour Tragedy

Manawatu Times, Volume LVI, Issue 7066, 27 January 1933, Page 6

Inquiry into Napier Harbour Tragedy

EVIDENCE OF LAUNCHMAN Per Press Association NAPIER, Last Night. The marine inquiry into the .disaster at tho entrance to the inner harbour on December 28 was opened to-day before .Mr. A. M. Mowlcm, S.M., with whom were associated as marine assessors Captain J. W. Holmes and Captain L. C. H. Worrall. The inquest into the deaths of the ten men drowned on that occasion was held in conjunction with the inquiry. Captain Robert William Martin, master of tho Tu Atu, said that when proceeding down the west side channel he saw the white light of the launch Doris, keeping it in view for some time without noticing any variation in its colour. Witness suddenly saw tho light flash across his bow and in a second or two tho launch was struck.

Erie Mcntzer, who was in charge of the Doris on the night of tho tragedy, said that on seeing lights in the channel ho thought them at first to bo cf some vessel stuck on the bottom in the channel. As he approached the light’s, the Tu Atu swung more over his star- | board bow. The Tu Atu was on the west side oE the channel and witness considered- ho could not have passed on the west side of tho other vessel, as he might have run on tho rocks. Ho saw the red light of the Tu Atu a moment before tho collision.