KARAMEA-ELINGAMITE COLLISION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4290, 25 February 1901, Page 6

KARAMEA-ELINGAMITE COLLISION.

An inquiry was litld at the Alagis- • rate's Court on .Saturday afternoon into Uni circumstances of thd break-awnv of (ho Karamea on Thursday of last "‘■"k, by which_that vessel damaged tlio Klingamite. ~

Dr AJeArl hur, S.AI., presided, and (hplaLn Anderson’ (of the Union S.S. Company) and Mr \V. Hood (engineer) tat as assessors.

Mr Young appeared for the Collector of Customs, Air Skcrrctt for the chief i ngiiuiar, .Mr Gray for Captain Burton (of the Karamea), and Air Dalziell for Pilot Shilling, who was in charge of the Karamea at tho time of the accident. A number of jiyitne-ssc.s were examined, and tho 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 tho ship's engines to move a steamer when alongside the wharf, a contention which was supported by 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 ve&sel by means of her winches. Pilot Shilling stated that ho had tried the winches in the present instance, hut that they would not act. Considerable evidence was taker, in regard to the entries in tho d<?ek- and engine-room log hooks concerning the orders given. The captain of the Karamea contended that the steamer’s engines were working full astern before she struck the Elingamito. Pilot Dawson, who was in a launch off the Karamea’s quarter, swore that the engines were going full-speed ahead til! after tho Hlingamitc was struck. The principal contradiction took place in regard to the orders given, the second engineer, who was in charge of the engines at the time, contending that the order received in tho engino-room was to go ‘Tull-ahead.’l Pilot Shilling and the third officer, who was telegraphing the pilot’s orders to the cngiuo-room, both denied ever having given that order, and stated that tho order repeated from the engine-room wasi 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 oflicey did their duty in a careful manner, and that in the engjne-room tho duties of the engineers were attended to in a careful manner. But by some moans or other one of those inexplicable accidents occurred, winch 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 the engine-room, cr in communicating it from the fourth to the second engineer. Tho Court decided that it was one of those accidents which took place without any apparent reason, and could not attach'blame to anyone in the matter.