THE KAIPARA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 14131, 10 February 1910, Page 3

THE KAIPARA.

CLOSE OF THE INQUIRY. DECISION RESERVED. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. Fob. 9. The inquiry into the stranding of the Kaipara in Rangitoto Channel on January 14 was concluded this afternoon. The sworn evidence of Captain Forsdick, at present master of the Orari, taken at, Christchurch, was prescmted to the Court, giving an account of the incident of the Waimate touching the bottom of the channel at what was believed to ho the same spot where the Kaipara struck. Addressing the Court, Mr. Cotter said the evidence showed that Auckland harbour was always considered one of the safest in the world. It had contained a hidden danger in the nature of an uncharted shoal in the fairway. The evidence brought forward to this effect removed ail possible responsibility for what happened from the shoulders of Captain Cornwall. There was no ground for believing that the Kaipara had been injured in any way at the wharf. The suggestion that the list had contributed to the accident had, he said, been practically abandoned, since there was not a single witness who had gone into tho box and said that tho list had anything to do with the casualty. In -conclusion, he strong-, ly condemned tho official chart, which had proved entirely misleading and a grave source of danger to navigators. The Court reserved its decision till Saturday.