LOSS OF TRAWLER.

Wairarapa Age, 21 October 1937, Page 6

LOSS OF TRAWLER.

INQUIRY INTO COLLISION IN FOVEAUX STRAIT.

INVERCARGILL, October 20. The sinking of the trawler Black Cat, in collision with another trawler, the Rita, in Foveaux Strait on August 11, was the subject of a marine inquiry which opened to-day. Mr. W. H. Freeman, S.M., and the assessors were Captain J. S. McKenzie and Captain H. J. Treurn. Mr. H. J. Mac Alister appeared for the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine, Mr. J. S. Sinclair, of Dunedin, and with him Mr. N. L. Watson, for the Orient Fish and Oyster Company, Ltd., owners of the Black Cat and Mr. G. J. Reed for Urwin and Company, Ltd., owners of the Rita. Captain H. A. Dillncr was present as nautical adviser.

Mr. Mac Alister said the collision occurred on the oyster grounds of Ruapuke Island, when the Rita collided with the Black Cat, striking her amidships and causing her to founder. Immediately before the collision, the Rita was under way at full steam. The evidence as to whether the Black Cat was under way, that was to say moving, was contradictory. The master and crew of the Black Cat said she was not under way and the master and crew of the other vessel said she was. The Black Cat, according to the master of the Rita, was steaming south-easterly, With the Rita on her starboard side. The Black Cat, therefore, under the rules, was the vessel to give way. Another question was whether the vessels were equipped with life-saving appliances under the life-saving rules. That, however, was a subsidiary question. After some of the evidence had been heard the inquiry was adjourned till to-morrow.— (P-A.)