THE AWARUA INQUIRY.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16947, 9 November 1926, Page 7

THE AWARUA INQUIRY.

ACTION OF THE MAKURA. "SHOULD HAVE STOOD BY." CAPTAIN ORDERED TO PAY COSTS (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. '■ I think (he master of the Mnkura should have slood by the Awarua until help arrived. If he had done so, the long drift and anxiety as In the safety of ihc ship would have been avoided, also the expense involved in finding her. The action of the master must, however, bo looked at from the amount of information he had at tho time and not from knowledge of the facts acquired at a later date. He rendered some assistance, but not so much as he ought to have given, and in this omission he committed an error of judgment." Such was the rendering to-day of Mr Riddcll, P.M., regarding the disappearance of the Awarua after she had reported herself short, of coal. while travelling from Chalhams to Wellington, and was not heard of till picked up by H.M.S. Dunedin. Captain Davy was ordered to pay costs, £lO 10s. The fTrsl question put to the court was whether the safely of the Awarua was endangered through the shortage of coat. Mr Riddcll found that the usual quantity of coal was taken aboard at the Chalhams, but that neither the captain nor the engineer could have anticipated the exceptional weather condtions or have forsecn a shortage of coal. The conclusion to be drawn from the evidence was that the Awarua was a small powered vessel, unsuited for trading between Wellington and the Chathams.

The second question was whether Captain Davy failed to render to tho Awarua, being then a ship in distress, such assistance as was required under the Shipping and Seamen Act. Mr Riddell considered that the Awarua, being short of coal and unable to make port, was a ship in distress. Regarding tho messages exchanged between the two ships the only message received by the master of the Makura was, "Short of coal, send assistance." If the lookout on the Makura had reported the other message he said he picked up the master might have acted differently. The message received, however, was a call for help, and under the circumstances Captain Davy should have stood by till help arrived. Mr Riddell said the facts disclosed that vessels trading to tho Chalhams should be equipped with wireless.