WRECK OF THE TASMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1921, Page 4

WRECK OF THE TASMAN.

FINDING AT THE INQUIRY. INSUFFICIENT CARE SHOWN. By T*'n»graph Press AsweHtlon. Auckland, Last Night. The Nautical Court which inquired into the wreck of the Tasman fount that the cause of the disaster was thatf the vessel was out of her proper course and struck one of the Hurima rocke, becoming a total wreck. Evidence had been put before tha Court that in the vicinity of White Island the needle of th? compass would> be liable to be deflected by a magnetic disturbance which was said to exist at the time the casualty occurred; but whether that was so or not the Court was of opinion that the first officer was negligent in not taking steps to ascertain hia correct distance off the laud at Town Point. The Court was also of opinion that the master did not taka sufficient care, or, at best, did not exercise good judgment, when deciding the distance the vessel was off the land at Matata. The Court was further of opinion that when the chief officer drew the master’s attention to the ship’s closeness to the Rurima rocks the master, in sending a message to the officer on the bridge to alter the course a quarter of a point to the south, was not taking sufficient precautions for the safety of the vessel. The fact that a rock could be seen against the background of black clouds implied that the ship was very close to that rock, and had the master exercised proper care when this report was made to him he would have ascertained this fact, and it might he that if at that time the course had been altered more to fh? south ■that might have saved the vessel from striking tho rock. The Court considered that both the master and the first officer did not exercise proper care in navigating the vessel. They would make no order in regard to their certificates, but the masteis would be ordered to pay £2O and the' chief officer £lO toward the costa ofi the inquiry. Their certificates were returned to the captain and the chief officer.