NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15343, 4 October 1917, Page 7

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

COUNSEL ADDRESS THE COURT. NOTHING AGAINST HARBOUR BOARD. After the "Herald" went to preßS yesterday the four counsel employed addressed the Court, Mr L. Cohen, who appeared for Captain Holm, said the Eunioe was a class of vessel with eccentric habits. Her master had done all that an expert seaman could do. Counsel contended that a difficulty had been created by tire extra 200 feet of the south mole. The roaster had almost managed, to miss it. The set, or whatever it might he called, was a local condition. The. Eunice was the victim of some accession of force which had turned her nose round. Counsel hoped the Board would regard it as a misadventure which might have befallen a more experienced master. Mr Brown, for the owners, said the peculiar way of building the south mole out 200 ft more than the other one meant that in strong west wind a boat was liable to be driven on the south mole before she got into the shelter of the south, mole. There had been no evidence of misconduct on the part of the master. Mr Treadwall held that the pilot, Captain Mclntyre, was justified in allowing the Eunice to enter the port. Mr Hewitt: We are quite satisfied about that. I don't think there is anything against the HarboUr Board at all. Proceeding, Mr Treadwell said his friends had suggested that it was peculiar to extend the south mole 200 feet more than the north. He therefore suggested that when the next election came they should stand for the Harbour Board. The evidence did not support the contention that the scow had been driven irresistibly on to the mole. When anything happened it was always put down to a set. Tests had shown that there had been no particular set. The harbour was not responsible for the accident, nor for the previous accidents. There was no difficulty that a careful man should not get over. COURT GIVES ITS DECISION. MASTER OF EUNIOE RESPONSIBLE. RIDER REGARDING FOREIGNERSThe Nautical Court, consisting of Mr J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., and" Captain George Lambert and Captain J. Black, gave its decision in regard to the wreck of the Eunice this afternoon. The Court answered the questions put to it as follows-. The Court finds thai the Eunice, while attempting to enter the port, struck on the end of the south mole, and became a wreck. 1. Whether the state of the weather aud sea warranted the pilot in allowing the vessel to take the bar? Answer: Yes. 2. Whether the state of the current and tide contributed to the accident p Answer: No. 3. What was the cause of the ship going to starboard? and 4. Whether there was Tany incompetency, neglect, or carelessness on the part of the master, the officers, or the crew? Answer: Having regard to the state of the weather, sea, fide, and bar on the day the Eunice struck, the Court is unable to accept as reasonable the explanation given by the master and officers, and is of the opinion that the sheering of the vessel just before she struck the south mo)e must have been' due to some fault of steering or management not disclosed by the evidence, but for which Captain Holm, as master of the vessel, must he held responsible. 5. Whether the master, after the vessel struok, took all precautions to save the shi» and crew ? Answer: YesRECOMMENDATION RE FOREIGNERS. "The Court desires to draw the attention of the Honourable the Minister of Marine to the fact that the master and both mates of the Eunice as well as four men out of the crew were by birth foreigners, and that the second mate, who was at tho helm at the time the vessel struck, is unnatnrahsed, and while there is no evidence, to show that the present loss is to be attributed to any of these causes, desires to express its opinion that in view of the vital importance to the community at the present time of all shins and shipping, no British ships should he allpwed to he en officered and manned." "The-master is ordered to nay £2O towards the costs of the inquiry, and his certificate is returned."