MISHAP TO KAEORL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17347, 19 December 1919, Page 8

MISHAP TO KAEORL

—_—.«. ■• EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY. STATEMENT BY MASTER. RESULT OF V TIDAL EFFECTS: . [by TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION] • , t>UNEI>IN, Thursday. The magisterial inquiry into the mishap to the steamer in Dunedin Harbour on November 18 was opened to-day before Mr. H. Widdowson, S.M., and Captains Manning and McArthur, assessors. . • The master of the Karori, Captain Hopkins, stated that the vessel,took a sheer toward the rocky ledge from tidal effects. Being in the middle of the channel, he was prepared for such a thing happening, but the margin of safety was so small that by the time he got the helm over the damage was done. The ship had not time (jo answer her helm. Matthew Robertson, chief engineer, said the vessel was eteering quite welL Captain Hopkins had taken more precautions in reference to steering his ship than any other captain he had served under. H. L. P. Brown, chief officer, said he noticed the bow sheer to port and felt a bump. He had no idea what caused the sheer. Captain Thomson, harbour master, said he would have approached the passage as Captain Hopkins had done, but he might have kept a little more towards Goat Island, where the water was deeper. Similar accidents had happened there. The magistrate * announced that a . decision would, be given to-morrow ingThe Karori struck tie bottom near Goat Island when entering the harbour. She was berthed in a leaking condition and sank at the wharf.