DEFENCE OPENED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20763, 25 June 1937, Page 9

DEFENCE OPENED

ACTION ARISING OCT OF COLLISION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received June 24, 10.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE, June 24. The case for the defence opened today in the action arising from the collision between the Kakarikl and Caradale. The Union Company is claiming for £50,000 in connection with the Kakariki-Caradale collision in Port Phillip on January 29. The defendants are the “Ship Caradale and her freight cargo." The defendants counterclaimed for £25,000. The collision resulted in the sinking of the Kakarikl and the loss of five lives. Opening the case for- the defendant Mr Fullagar, K.C., said the Caradale’s course was set with a view to giving the Kakarikl plenty of room. Had both vessels kept to their courses no collision would have occurred. The master told the helmsman not to go closer to the Kakarikl. Shortly after that the port light of the Kakariki disappeared and a single muffled blast was heard from the Kakariki. A collision was then inevitable. The Caradale was put hard to starboard with the engines full astern. Arthur F. Hansen, master of the Caradale. said that after the collision he endeavoured to keep the hole in the Kakariki filled, but the vessel sank rapidly.