The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 1912.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3708, 18 December 1912, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 1912.

There was much controversy in the course of the Star of Canada case, it may be recalled, as to the exact position which the ill-fated vessel occupies on Haiti beach. On the one hand Mr George Grant, who was called by the Gisborne Sheep Farmers Frozen Meat Coy., Ltd., placed the steamer about 413 yards from high water mark; whilst on the other hand Captain Hart on behalf of the Tysev Company, Ltd., placed her 256 yards or thereabouts further out! It would really seem hard to believe at first glance that such a remarkable difference between the calculations of the surveyors for the respective parties in placing the position of the unfortunate boat upon the Admiralty chart could have resulted. In this connection we note that Mr Justice Chapman wrestled valiantly with the problem, but ultimately found himself quite unable to definitely disagree with either or both of the contentions that had been set forth ]

An Interesting Dispute.

at the trial. Discussing the survey made by Mr Grant, His Honor said that it was a most careful survey by theodolite of the vessel’s position from a base line marked; out on dry land above the beach about 41b yards distant. At low tide, he mentioned, one could walk out about half-way to the vessel on the flat rocks which clip very slightly seaward until they break off abruptly with an irregular edge into the small submerged bays over one of which/the-stern of the Star of Canada hangs. 11is Honor then declared that he JT'Ould not find any fault with Mr Gjfflrit’s mode of procedure, assuming mat his theodolite was in perfect Jorder which he had averred was the [case. For their part,. Captain Hart Wind others experienced in this class M work took observations by an approved method used by navigators, consisting ias it did of the combined result of cross-bearings taken of several known points such as Tuamotu Island, the-buoyed rocks and points on the shore. They verified the correctness of their, method by ascertaining ttie position of known objects such as the Tomoana buoy and the Tokomaru buoy and from their positions proceeded to ascertain the place where the vessel lay. Here again His Honor said he could not say that lie could find any fault with the method adopted , l>ut he added that it would depend

on all the points used for observations 1 including Pa Hill being positions ascertained by ,tbe Admiralty survey of which he had not in every case receiv- ! eel proof, although he understood that the Admiralty survey was linked on the land survey of the district. The reason why Air Justice Chapman did not attempt to settle the question was, ho points out,- that he came to tiie conclusion that the difference vas really unimportant in the result for I these reasons: The Admiralty surw-y gave detailed soundings of all the navigable waters of the port oi Gis- | borne, but they were not carried right ! up to the beach as it would be useless to give a detailed survey of waters that were not navigable. In any case, the vessel (lay within the area which the Admiralty survey treated as foul ground, and did not detail except to show certain submarine bays or deep water and certain tongues of flat reef which it would never be safe for a vessel of so large a size to approach. His Honor added that he was unable to. say how so considerable a difference in results could have arisen between surveyors, each using a recognised method unless there was some error in the positions used by Captain Hart. Mr Brooke. Inspecting Surveyor in the Government service, who had tested Mr Grant’s results, preferred his method to that which Captain Hart adopted. What was certain was that the difference would be serious if it were essential to place the vessel on the Admiralty chart in her correct position. As Mr Justice Chapman did ■ not think, however, that the determination of the question would assist the determination of the ultimate questions in the action, he did not, therefore, pursue this very interest- j ing matter any further.