OTAGO HARBOR COLLISION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 112, 2 May 1908, Page 2

OTAGO HARBOR COLLISION.

Per Press Association. ' Dunedin, Last Night. The inquiry into the collision between the Defence steamer Lady Roberts aud the oil launch Matakauu was resumed ,at Port Chalmers to-day. Joseph Codcloi, owner of the launch, admitted that j he was in Charge of the latter when the accident happened, though immediately prior to that event the tiller was in the lntmls of one of the passengers. On leaving I'ort Chalmers tile engine wa ; ' working badly, and while he attended to it some of the passengers held tl.fc s helm aud kept a look-out. From tiniif to time he issued instructions to thf.>. steersman. When he saw the collision threatening, he knew his duty was to go to the starboard and he tried to dw so, but it was too late. If the captain of the Lady Roberts had put his heln. a-port, he would have cleared * the steamer by -JO foot. He had had only two glasses oi beer before leaving Port Chalmers.

(Junner Bireliall, of the Dunedin Navals, said if Coddoi had not snatched the tiller out of his hand the hutnch would have cleared the steamer, Coddoi turned the rudder and the collision resulted. Counsel for Coddoi contended thai the Lady Roberts was on lier wrong side of the channel. Evidence was also given by the men who picked up the two portions of the launch, and after counsel had addressed the Court, the magistrate said the Court would reserve its decision.