A TRIFLING COLLISION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2797, 10 September 1883, Page 2

A TRIFLING COLLISION.

Nelson, Sept. 9. On the evening of tha 28th August the steamer Murray, when leaving Nelson for ■Wellington, collided with the small cutter Phoenix, but the affair was not reported at the time. Westropp, master of the Phoenix, has since reported it to the Collector of Cn9toni3, and an official enqniry was held yesterday before Mr Curtis, R.M., and Captains Palmer and Caroy. Captain Scott, of the Murray, and the second officer, Paul, were called on to deposit their certificates. Tho enquiry wag a long one. It showed that Captain Scott and Paul wero on tho bridge. Paul saw tho cutter's lights dead ahead, but didnot call the captain's attention to them as he was also looking out. When tho steamer was within about 50 yards, Westropp shouted out and Scott pnt tho helm hard-a-port. The steamor just caught the bowspirt of the cutter, carrying it away. The steamer wont right on without staying to make any enq~ r .-:;-. Tb^ Court unanimously decided that the second officer deserved severe censure for his neglect to report the cutter's lights to the captain ; that the captain was also to blame for not stopping tho engines when hailed by tho outtor and saw her lights, a3 welt as I porting tho helm ; also, that the captain deserved censuro for not stopping tha engines as Boon as ho became aware of the accidont, in order to render assistance if required. The coata were £2 2s, and the captain was ordered to pay two-thirds and tho second officer onethird. Their certificates were returned. INTERCOLONIAL WEATHER EXCHANGE. Wmlisotos, Sept. 9. New Zealand. — Pressure nearly uniform ; generally southerly winds ; gloomy and passing showers. Australia. — Slight depression south of Tasmania ; generally fine, with westerly winds j light showers on South Coast. Barometer. — In New Zealand: At Russell, 39.9; Wellington, 29.7 ; Bluff, 29.7. In Australia: At Sydney, 30.1 ; Hobart, 30.0; Albany, 30.2 ; Portland, 30.1.