NAUTICAL INQUIRY VERDICT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1919, Page 5

NAUTICAL INQUIRY VERDICT.

QUEEN OF THE SOOTH. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, May 19. The Magisterial Court of Inquiry delivered judgment this morning concerning the wreck of the Queen ot the South. The court held that the wreck was principally due to Cape Campbell light being obscured by fog, and there being no other lights or landmarks visible to show the master that the vessel was not making a safe course, According to the evidence a theoretically safe course was steered, but had the master had more experience of the locality he might have made allowance to counteract the effect of the flood tide. While accepting the theory that the magnetos in the cargo might have been a contributing cause, the court pointed out that there was no evidence to show that the magnetos were stowed in such proximity to the compass to produce deviation sufficient to be the sole cause of the wreck. The court found that the wreck was not caused by a wrongful act of the master, officers or crew. The certificates of the master and mate were returned. They were not ordered to pay costs. Th court recommended that official tests be made to ascertain at what distance the magnetos could attract compasses; also that all electrical goods shipped be clearly marked.