Dunedin Harbour Collision
ENQUIRY BEGUN. Per United Press Association. DUNEDIN, April 30. The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collision in the Lower Harbour on the night of 18th inst. between the Lady Roberts, defence boat, and the Matakana,' a motor fishing boat, was commenced at Port Chalmers this morning. Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., presided and Captains Forbes and Woebling were the nautical assessors. Mr. Fraser appeared for the Marine Department, Mr Hanlon for the Commander of the Lady Roberts (Captain Cashman), and Mr Hay for the owner of the fishing boat (Joseph Coddoi). Lieutenant Colonel Smyth appeared on behalf of the Defence Department, The evidence of Captain Cash man was to the effect that the Lady Roberts had all her lights burning. Ho first saw tlie Matakana when from 100 to 130 yards distant. If tho fishing boat had kept on iter course the Lady Roberts would have cleared it by 130 feet. When about 30 yards separated the boats the Matakana altered her course and attempted to cross the bow of the oilier boat. Capt. Cash man put the engines full speed astern and the holm a-starboard, but tbe collision was inevitable. Tbe Matakana was coming along on tbe port or wrong side of the channel, ami the accident was solely due to her attempting to cross the bows of the Lady Roberts. Evidence was also, given by Jas. Daly, Jas. Marlin, and Captain Gardiner (Royal Artillery) to the effect that the collision was inevitable.
The evidence given by those on the Matakana showed that there was some doubt as to who had the tiller of the boat at the time. The owner of the launch stated that he was attending to the engines and did not go astern. He thought a young fellow named Peters was steering. The evidence also showed that there was a keg of beer on board; but all the members of tin 1 party were stated to have been perfectly sober. The police evidence showed that the owner of the boat was sober at 10.10 p.m., about an hour before the boat left Port Chalmers.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19080501.2.29
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 12123, 1 May 1908, Page 2
Word Count
353Dunedin Harbour Collision Southland Times, Issue 12123, 1 May 1908, Page 2
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