DEVON WRECK ENQUIRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 15, 18 September 1913, Page 6

DEVON WRECK ENQUIRY.

THE CAPTAIN EXONERATED.

[Per Press Association.]. Wellington, September 18

The decision of the Court in connection with the re-hearing of the en quiry into the wreck of the Devoi was delivered to-day, and exonerate Captain Caunce; The steamer wa-‘ j stranded on the rocks- at Pencarrov '■ Heiuj on the side of the en trappe to Wellington harbor ,at 7.4’ p.m.;on 2sth August, 1913, in squall,' weather. The judgment stated tha Captain Caunce was not altogether : stranger to the. Po.r.t of -Wellington but lie had not previously command ed a vessel entering it. A master o’ an ocean steam could not be expected to jiave all the minute knowldge ■o J local objects and local, Conditions ao 1 quiced by: : experienced navigator ' commanding local vessels. He had however, made himself familiar wit’ the Tights which serve to guide ves sols entering the harbour. The light presented different apearances unde varying atmospheric conditions, an . these became known to local command ers. Questions put by the Ministe were: (1) What was the cause of th stranding? (2) What was the strand ing due to or contributed to, by negli genco or wrongful act or default of tin master? The answer to both ques tions was that in the opinion of th Court the vessel stranded through th master mistaking Falcon shoal buo' j light for the red sector of the Some’: 1 Island light in such circumstance ! that it holds he is not to blame fo--1 the disaster. In a memorandum at ! taehed to the judgment, the assessor I make yarious suggestions regardin' ■ the lights at the entrance to the liar | hour. Justice Chapman, presiden I of the Court, intimated that he woulc I give instructions that Captar | Cauneo’s certificate he returned. Th ! assessors were Captains W. J. New ton and W. Waller.