Mr. Drummond—Then I think it seems to follow we had got on the wrong side of the river.
His Lordship—No, that is not so, because it is manifest you must show your green light as you are coming down the Feima channel.
Mr. Drummond—That is coming river the bar.
His Lordship—The question is a question of distance; how far you went over. If you went over a certain distance you might justify the Newwchioang in thinking you were going the wrong side; it was doing something which led them to think.
Mr. Drummond—But I think that the time at which the green light must have been seen was the time when she was on the bar.
His Lordship—That is what you say.
Mr. Drummond—Then he says that after that we had got to such a point, showing the green light so much to him, that he was obliged to go on his wrong side of the river.
Mr, Platt—Not obliged.
His Lordship—That he thought you were going to take that side, Mr. Drummond—And, from the position we were in, we were practically going on that side.
His Lordship—No, you will not convince me. I think it is manifest what Mr. Platt wants to show is that the ship went so far out that the Newchwang was justified in thinking that she was going to take a wrong course. And now, if Mr. Platt will confine himself strictly, as he says, to facts and no opinions whatever, then I will admit the evidence, and I think it ought to be admitted. If he is going to prove facts with regard to that and leave it to the Assessors and myself to say whether, those facts existing, the course of the Onwo was right or wrong, I think ho is justified in calling such evidence as that. I quite follow, with regard to the Kirby Halt, it is a distinct authority that you cannot have expert evidence, but, as Mr. Platt says, he is going to call evidence which is going to prove certain facts, I think I must admit it, Mr. Drummond—Then, if that evidence is admitted, will your Lordship, if I desire, allow me to call rebutting evidence as to the facts?
His Lordship—I 1080 50.
Mr. Platt—I shoul ike Mr. Drummond to ive his facts now.
is Lordship—Mr. Drummond says he does not know what you are going to prove. When Mr. Platt has proved his facts then you can make your application, Mr. Drammond, and I will deal with it.
Captain Robert Williams, called and sworn was examined by Mr. Platt, You are a pilot Yes, How long have you been a pilot?—34 years.
Now, with a strong tide at high-water—a strong flood tide coming in—what ie the state of the water rounding the Feima lightship @—It is slack tide with an eddy.
ebb tide coming down causes an eddy which we call "'chow-chow " water.
What is the tendency of a vessel when it comes out of this eddy and meets a strong flood tide?—The tendency is she takes the strong flood tide on her starboard bow and it throws her over considerably towards the other side.
OF course the tide would have ter effect on a long vessel of deep wright than on a short vessel?—Yes, much greater.
Have you ever known vessels thrown over towards the Woosung shore under those circumstances?—Yes, I have known of them having to let down their anchorsjto
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.