FOG SIGNALS URGED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18087, 7 August 1936, Page 11

FOG SIGNALS URGED

WAHINE MISHAP INQUIRY JERNINOHAM AND WHARF PROTECTION OF VESSELS (Pi;r Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The necessity for some form .of fog signals in Wellington harbour is sir. ssed by the court of inquiry, which inquired into the accident to the inti r--1 island steamer Wahine which collided with the Pipitea wharf during a dense fog.in June. The report of the court, which consisted of Sir. E. D. Mosley, S.M., and Captains .T. G. Watson and .). Mawst n, was released by the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. Eraser, to-day. The report reads as follows: “Arising out of the inquiry into the mishap to the Wahine. we have given serious consideration to the eviileuee placed before the court on behalf of the Wellington Harbour Board, and while we appreciate to i ie utmost J-lmt,, point of view and the due weight , that must be given to tie views of men whose duties make them familiar with conditions at the wharves, we are of the opinion tintadequate fog signals at both Point Jcriiingham and the outermost wharf would be of valuable assist am e.

“Those two points would mark, as ir. were, the outer Tine, or points, defining the inner basin, within whi h the utmost caution should he ohserv *0 in navigation when visibility is n it normal.

“It is our unanimous opinion that had there been a. warning hell or other device of adequate power on the Pi >itea wharf on the morning of the casualty, it would not have happened. Wo were given.to understand at the hearing that recommendations for Lie installation of fog signals within the harbour had been made by at least two nautical courts of inquiry. ”

The opinion of the court is to be forwarded to the harbour board by he 3linis:tcr of 3farine.