KARAMEA-ELINGAMITE COLLISION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1523, 28 February 1901, Page 25

KARAMEA-ELINGAMITE COLLISION.

An inquiry was held at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday afternoon into the circumstances of the break-away of the Karamea on Thursday of last week, by which that vessel damaged the Elingamite. . Dr McArthur, S.M., presided, and Captain Anderson! (of the Union S.S. Company) and Mr W. Hood, (engineer) sat as assessors. Mr Young appeared for the Collector of Customs, Mr Skerrett for the chief engineer, Mr Gray for Captain Burton (of the Karamea), raid Mr Dalziell for Pilot Shilling, who was in charge of the Karamea at the time of the accident. A number of witnesses were examined, and the evidence adduced was of a very conflicting character. It was sought to prove by : counsel for the engineers that it-was an unusual procedure to use the ship’s engines to move a steamer when alongside the wharf, a contention which was supported J).y Captain Burton, of the Karamea, and the chief engineer of that, steamer. Pilots Dawson and Shilling, _ and Signalman Quinlan (of the Harbour Beard’s staff), contended, however, that it was a usual:practice, especially against a head wind, and, in fact, that it-was a matter of impossibility to move a-big : vessel by means of her winches.y Pilot Shilling stated that he had tried the winches in the "present instance',' -but that they would not act. ■ • Considerable evidence was taken in regard to the on- ■ tries in the deck and engine-room logbooks ooncerning the orders givep. The captain of!the Karamea contended that - the steamer’s engines were working full astern before she struck the'Elingamite. Pilot Dawson, who was> in a launch off the Karamba’s quarter; swore that the engines were going full-speed ahead till after the Elingamite was struck. _ The principal contradiction took place in re - gard to the orders given, the second engineer, who was in charge of the engines at the time, contending that the order received in the engine-room was to go £ Tull-ahead.” Pilot Shilling and the third officer, who was telegraphing the ! pilot’s orders to the engine-room, both . denied ever having gi veil that order, and stated! that the order repeated from the - engine-roOm was< full-astern. Captain

Burton saw the order repeated, and immediately afterwards gave it again.

Dr McArthur said the Court was of opinion that on the bridge the pilot and third officer did. their duty in a careful manner, and that in the engine-room the duties of the engineers were attended to in a careful manner. But by some means or other one of those inexplicable accidents occurred, which took place '•when least expected. The Court was not in a position to say whether the mistake arose through a misunderstanding in communicating an order from the pilot to the third officer, or in communicating that order to thel engine-room, or in . communicating it from the fourth to the' second engineer. The Court decided that * it was one of those accidents which took place without any apparent reason, andb could not attach blame to anyone in" the- 1 matter. ".A