THE STRANDED AVIUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13744, 8 May 1908, Page 6

THE STRANDED AVIUM.

FINDING OF -THE COURT. "NEGLIGENT NAVIGATION." [BT TELEGRAPH.—-PRESS -ASSOCIATION.]' Westport. Thursday. The Nautical Court, in giving judgment in the Taviuni stranding case this morning, said it came to the conclusion that the cause, of the casualty was the negligent navigation of the master. James Brophy. The reasons for the finding were that the vessel was well found and manned, and was seeking anchorage with the signals against her. She was practically, to put it bluntly, driven ashore at "full speed ' (because the Court preferred to rely on the evidence of the second engineer as to the time he reported rjders) a few hundred yards from a.•weli.j4jh.ted port on a night which, on the captain's own admission, was not dirty, but merely dark and squally, with .-.hanging over, the land.. This in itself seemed negligence of some kind, and when the circumstances were further inquired into it was found that the captain, knowing that the signals were against him, and knowing that the night was not clear, and that the mist was hanging along shore, ran or. with the .vessel with the intention of doing so until he could pick up the red light on the end of the tiphead, which could only be seen at a comparatively short distance off in misty weather, without, taking the simple and, as the Court held, proper and necessary precautions of taking the close bearings of Cape Foulwind and the harbour lights, or using the lead. The captain's certificate was suspended for three months, and he was ordered to pay the costs of the inquiry, amounting to £55 lis. The Court found that after the accident proper steps were taken to protect and preserve the passengers, crew, mails, and cargo, and that the life-saving appliances and signalling apparatus on the ship, were in . first-class order. The red sector on Cape Foulwind light was a. good one, but it wajs not absolutely necessary. ■ No blame was attached to the other officers. •■'-'■; ." '".' ' ■'. . ;". EFFORTS AT REFLOATING. [BY. TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] - ..'Wellington, Thursday. The Union Steam Ship Company's' tugboat Terawhiti, which has made two unsuccessful attempts to tow. the stranded Taviuni off the beach, arrived back in port this morning from Westport. It' is reported that another attempt will be made to refloat the Taviuni at the time of the next, spring tides. The steamer is hard and fast, embedded . in. 7ft or Bft of sand, but there is evidence, however, of the sand clearing slightly fore and aft of the hull.