LAUNCHES COLLIDE.

Wairarapa Age, 3 July 1929, Page 6

LAUNCHES COLLIDE.

NEGLECT TO CABBY LIGHTS. DEFENDANTS FINED. NELSON, July 2. As the outcome of a collision in the Bay some days ago, between the oil engine launches Maritana and Shamrock, the respective masters, Bussell John Ricketts and James Henry Crapper, appeared before Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M., charged with causing, by their wilful default, infringements of the “collision regulations“ (Shipping and Seamen Act) in permitting their launches to be at sea without carrying the lights prescribed by the Regulations. The Collector of Customs (Mr. F. C. J. Fantham), who prosecuted, stated that the Maritana and a fishing launch the Shamrock, came into collision in the early morning of June 3 last, just outside the harbour entrance. The matter was reported to him on the following day by Ricketts and the same afternoon an inquiry into the cause of the collision was held by the Collector. The finding was that the collision was caused by the neglect of the masters of both vessels to carry the lights prescribed by the regulations. The Collector asked for a heavy penalty and stated that the Marine Department took a very serious view of the offence. Much publicity had been given to the neglect of launches to carry lights only a year ago, as the result of a Magisterial inquiry into *a collision which occurred at almost the same place. The Collector also stated that the masters of coastal vessels had been complaining to the Department through the Merchant Service Guild that launches were still moving round Nelson at night without exhibiting lights. The defendant Ricketts, said he had been on a trip to Croixelles and had expected to make the return journey in daylight. The Magistrate agreed with the Collector as to the seriousness of the offence and said he would have to inflict heavy fines. Each defendant was accordingly fined £lO, with costs, 10s. -(PA.)