THE KETCH ENVY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 277, 22 November 1899, Page 5

THE KETCH ENVY.

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

At the S.M. Court this morning a magisterial inquiry w_« opened, before Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M., and Captains Adamson and Fernandez, nautical '■assessors, into the allegations made in Wellington to the effect that the Envy was unseaworthy when she left that port for Auckland on August, 8 last. Mr Theo. Cooper appeared for Captain Wm. Champion, and Mr Alex. Rose, Collector of Customs, conducted the, inquiry on behalf of the. Marine. Department. The application for investigation stated that the vesssel wins slightly damaged in a. gale, her bulwarks being partly broken and the lower half of her deckhouse was- also broken. Statements had been made that the vessel was unseaworthy When she left Wellington for Auckland.

Captain Champion stated that the Envy left Wellington on August 8, and huil fine weather until Tilth, when the wind rose. On 14th it was blowing a terrific-gale from the eastward, with very heavy sea. The pumps were regularly sounded, and the ketch was making- no water. Heavy water was shipped, and a. portion of the quarterrail was carried away, and Hie lower portion of the deck-house was carried away, this being the only damage received. The hull was not (affected. The gale continued up till the 20th, and the vessel made good' weather. On the 15th he dropped a bottle overboard containing a message with the vessel's position. He then doubted whether she would weather the Barrier. The bottle was picked up on the east side of the island. .He obtained observations on 19th and 20th and had the Three Kings in sight on 21st, and arrived in port oii 23rd. The Actual repairs cost £10. The vessel made no water, and the dynamite cargo was not damaged in any way. The crew did not complain that the vessel wa.s unseaworthy. and had no reason 1o suppose'that she was so. Previous to this trip he arrived at Wellington from Sydney after a rough trip. He had no' idea, as to why rumours were circulated in Wellington as to the vessel's unseaworthiness, except that they may have been spread by a carpenter who came aboard wanting to know if he had any repairs to be done. He did not require his services. Several of his witnesses had left the vessel, and could not now be obtained. Had the vessel not, been seaworthy she would never have lived through the gale. Captain M. T. Clayton, surveyor to Lloyd's Uegister, stated that he examined the ketch Envy at the end of August. The gale through which she had then run would test her seaworthiness. The damage done her would not render- her unseaworthy. The houses on deck were properly secured.

(Proceeding.)