HARBOUR DISASTER

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 31, 28 January 1933, Page 8

HARBOUR DISASTER

INQUIRY PROCEEDINGS WATERSIDERS GIVE EVIDENCE (Per Press Association) NAPIER, Last Night. The marine inquiry into the disaster at the inner entrance to Napier Harbour on December 28, when the launch Doris, containing 31 watersider.>, collided with the Richardson Company’s Tu Atu, and sank with the loss of ton lives, was continued to-day. Mr A. M. Mowlem, S.M., is presiding, and with him associated as marine assessors, arc Captain J. W. Holmes and Captain L. C. 11. Warrail. Arno Angon, a deckhand on the Tu Atu, stated that the launch appeared to change its course when within a few yards of the Tu Atu. He saw the light on the port side and next instant the launch was overturned on the starboard side. The Tu Atu did not appear to change her course. The launch was struck only a glancing blow. Witness thought that it completely overturned.

Richard Blundell, master of the tug' Kuril, said that early on Iho night of the disaster, Mentzer, the launch helmsman, appeared to bo the worse for liquor.

William Frank Bunce, Harbour Board nightwatchman, in giving evidence, said he dirt not put up the 11 channel closed” signal when the Tu Atu went out, as she did not block it. Launches .frequently passed the Tu Atu in the channel. Alfred Witington, a watersider who was on the Doris, said he saw the Tu Atu when she was almost on the launch which had not changed her course just piior to the collision.

Jeffrey Ronald Jones, another watersidor who was on the Doris, said that when he saw the lights of the Tu Atu he thought them to be those of the Koau stuck in the channel. The Doris appeared to pull in toward Ihe eastern pier and ho thought they would graze it as they passed. When he first saw the Tu Atu the Doris was a little on

her port bow. The sitting adjourned until to-mor row.