CAPTAIN HELD CULPABLE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10441, 29 April 1910, Page 3

CAPTAIN HELD CULPABLE.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] . (Per Press Association'.) Received April 28.. at 9.40 p.m. 'Sydney, April 2S. At the Marine inquiry into the loss of the Satara, Captain Hnghill stated thatafter the vessel struck he took hearings, which put the vessel about :i quarter of a mile north-east of Edith Break. Mr Binstead, the pilot, stated that he had taken large vessels through the inner passage many times. The object was to get out of the southern current and gain about five miles between Newcastle and the Queensland coast. Shortly before she struck the ship was headnig between the Edith Break and Seal Rock. Had she struck the Edith Break, Peak Kock would have been straight ahead; instead, it was considerably on the port how. He was satisfied lie "was clear of Edith Rock. He admitted that his pilot's license did not authorise him to take charge of vessels outside Queensland waters, but it had been customary for Torres Straits pilots to take charge of ships before getting into their own waters, to ascertain compass deviations, and discover how vessels would act.

The captain of a small coasting steamer said he knew of a submerged uncharted rock surrounded by deep v.ater eastward of Edith Break. The Court found that the loss was mused by the wrongful act of the captain bv "allowing a course to be set which caused her to strike Edith Break, and called on him to show cause why his certificate should not be dealt with.