FLOATING MINE MENACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17295, 20 October 1919, Page 6

FLOATING MINE MENACE.

ADMIRALTY ORDERS BROKEN.

EVIDENCE BY CAPTAIN.

[BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday.

Giving eyidence at the Tainui nautical inquiry, Cathelas MacPherson, master of the steamship Manaroa, and for four months master of the Mana, owned by the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, stated that he carried benzine in the Mana while in charge of that vessel. The Admiralty regulations were then in force as to the crossing of Cook Strait only in daylight. During his mastership he had been instructed by his company to navigate the Mana across Cook Strait at night, and had done so.

Mr. Buchanan (representing the New Zealand Refrigerating Company) asked the witness to produce his letter of instructions.

Mr. Raymond (who represented the Minister for Marine) explained that the letter had been lost or destroyed. Mr. Buchanan objected to the evidence being accepted unless the letter of instructions could be produced.

The president held that the evidence was admissible and noted an objection entered by Mr. Buchanan. Continuing, witness stated that the letter of instructions was in his possession for some time, but he did not know where it was now. The letter instructed him to proceed to Wanganui from Wellington as soon as he finished loading. It was handed to him in the afternoon and instructed him to sail by night. He exercised his discretion usually and left about an, hour and a-half before daylight. That gave him an hour to clear the harbour and another half-hour to reach Karori Rock, where the danger zone commenced. He then traversed the area specified in daylight. He received instructions on three occasions by letter and on one occasion verbally to leave and travel by night. On two occasions he left Wellington at 5 p.m. He entered the times of leaving in the loi' book, which the company had. Mr. Raymond asked that the log books be produced, and also those in use when Captain Williamson received instructions to take the Tainui across the strait by night. Witness said he was never reprimanded by the company for crossing Cook Strait in the darkness. He was dismissed, the only reason he knew of being that he could not get the Mana to go fast enough. He took the vessel to sea at night on the three occasions referred to for the purpose of profit-making for the company. Mr. Buchanan: Those orders did not come from the head office.

The President: You cannot dissociate the branch and head office in this matter.