ARAHURA COLLISION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9613, 20 March 1917, Page 5

ARAHURA COLLISION

INQUIRY CONTINUED. Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 19. The nautical inquiry concerning the collision at Gisborne between the Arahur.i mil a Home liner was continued to-day. _ Captain Goddard, master or the liner, recalled, said ho wished to correct a statement regarding the position of his ship. She did not have her anchorage at all prior to the collision. i Captain Dryden, of the Arahura, said that when he went to sea on the night of the collision the red light of the liner was burning—-not the green. Ho felt it was the liner’s duty to Keep clear of him. Howard Towne Fell, chief officer of the liner, said ho' did not sea tho Arahura after dark on the day of the collision, as she was hidden by tho Winwnefa, When he reported to the master that cargo was finished ho received orders to lift the anchor, and as the stock came out of the water he reported, “Anchor a-weigb.’’ He turned, and noticed that the navigation lights came on almost immediately. The anchor was heaved into tjlc hawse pipe, and as witness turned round he noticed the Arahura on the starboard side making towards the liner. She was well clear of the liner’s bow, because only one of her sidelights was visible. He continued to watch the vessel, and did not notice any alteration in her course till tho ships were close together. Ho thought the Arahura would’ be travelling at from five to six knots ahead towards the liner. Tho vessel had gone about half past the liner when she struck the liner’s stem. She scraped past, touching all the time. When he first saw the AraliUra she was between 200 and 300 yards away. He did not hear anyone call out or report to the captain that a ship was bearing down on the liner. It would be about a couple of minutes after the anchor was home when the Arahura struck the liner. He did not report to the captain when he first saw the xVrahura. as ho considered’ the master had seen her. The only vessel that tho liner took steps to warn that she was going to sea was the tugboat, and ho had not heard of any custom in Gisborne of vessels about to go out giving signals to other ships. John Cowell Greaves, third officer oh the Home liner, said he was on tho hrldgn Ho saw the masthead lights and tho red light on the Arahura. as She rounded the Wimmora’s how. Tho inquiry was adjourned till tomorrow.