THE PORT STEPHENS ABANDONMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12000, 18 October 1906, Page 7

THE PORT STEPHENS ABANDONMENT.

Finding of the Oourt Oapfcain Guilty of a Great Error of Judgment. (Per United Press Association). DUNEDIN, October 18. The Court found Captain Jolly, of the Port Stephens, guilty of a great error of judgment in abandoning his ship. Had Jie made himself previously acquainted with local conditions he must have known that the chances were against drifting farther south. He was also guilty of great negligence in navigating in strange waters without furnishing himself with the best ''authorities on navigation in the said waters. He did not sufficiently encourage the officers and men to stand by the ship after the visit of the Ravenbcourt, and that his reasons for this, viz., shortness of provisions, were due in great measure to his own neglect in not ac•quainting himself with the quantity on board before sailing. He should have let part of his crew only leave by the Ravenscourt. The engineers did all that was possible to repair the broken shaft. In every case that a vessel was propelled by a single screw it should carry a shaft coupling. It is to be regretted that the other officers, except the chief engineer, did not show any desire to back up the captain by sticking to the ship. Taking into consideration all the circumstances, the Court did not consider it necessary to withhold any certificates, but as the captain- must be held responsible for what the Court considered a great error of judgment, it ordered him to pay fifteen guineas towards the Court's expenses and the enquiry^