BOATS TESTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 276, 21 November 1928, Page 7

BOATS TESTED.

VESTRIS INSPECTION. U.S. Officials Found Everything Ship Shape. LIFE PRESERVERS REPLACED. (Australian and N.Z. Frees Association.) (Received 10 a.m.) NEW YORK, November 20. Mr. Dickerson Hoover, InspectorGeneral of the United States Steamboat Inspection Service, has opened an inquiry into the inspection of the lost steamer Vcstris. Edward Keane, one of the inspectors who cleared the vessel, admitted that six coal ports were not thoroughly inspected before the Vestris sailed. He explained that he was able to examine only four ports on each side because the other six were filled with coal, but expressed certainty that they were shut tight and were all properly gaskefrted.

Mr. Keane previously testified that the inspection was thorough, lasting four days, and of the 601 life preservers 68 were found rotten and were replaced. Witness declared that the boats were in excellent condition and fully equipped with food, water, flares, compass, etc. He added that he tested the lifeboats by placing 65 persons in ejich, which was above the capacity, and that he lowered the craft, although not fully, to the water, because barges were adjacent to the ship. The third officer, Mr. Welland, said several of the lifeboats did not have proper officers in charge of them. Three of the four boats he helped to launch reached the water safely. Nobody could give an accurate idea as to why the Vestris sank. The general opinion, however, was that the packing worked loose from the part door on the coal-bunkers and that that caused the leaks in the engine-room. Witness said he discovered several leaks and conferred with the captain, who remarked that the situation was serious and that the Vestris must be taking in water from some place other than the leaks. A search failed to reveal other places. Isaac Scott, a waiter, testified that the Vestris had leaked on fhe last four voyages from a starboard door, six feet above the water. He stated that none of the crew were assigned to lifeboats on the last voyage and there were no drills for the passengers. Thomas Connor, head waiter, said: "In my opinion the Vestris had a slight list on all the five voyages in which I sailed. The list increased on the last voyage when five houfs from New "Sork." Gilbert Ford, a negro chief fireman, said it was not unusual to ftnd water in the engine room. He said he was unable to make the screws work on a leaking ash hopper. The last lifeboat drill he could remember was on the Vestris , last northern trip. '

BRITISH INQUIRY.

COVER ALL MATERIAL POINTS.

(British Official Wireleaa.i (Received 1 p.m.) y RUGBY, November 20. Many questions were a skied in the House of Commons to-day regarding the loss of the Vestris. Replying to these Mr. H. C. Williams, Under-Secretary of the Board of Trade, said that, the form of inquiry to be held in this country was not yet decided, but the inquiry would cover all the material points. As to responsibilities of the Board of Trade Mr. Williams said that all passenger ships trading to and from ports in this country were thoroughly surveyed by Board of Trade surveyors at least once a year. All ocean going vessels carrying large numbers of third-clase passengers underwent a further survey before the beginning of each voyage.

Asked whether the inspectors of the Board of Trade had any responsibility for the proper storage of carjjo below decks Mr. Williams replied that this responsibility rested on the perrons concerned in sending the ships to sea. The Board of Trade surveyors did not intervene unless there was reason to think that the ship was improperly londed and could not go to sea without danger to life. He added that all British liners carried boats for all aboard and, in addition, rafts up to 25 per cent of the number of persons aboard.

TO ASSIST COURT.

NAUTICAL EXPERTS ADDED.

(British Official Wlreleu.) (Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, November 20. At the suggestion of the British Government Mr. Frank O'Neill, the United States Commissioner, who is presiding at an inquiry into the disaster to the Vestris which foundered off the American coast with heavy loss of life, was joined yesterday on the Bench by two nautical experts of whom one has been appointed , by the British and one by the United States Governments. The British expert is Captain Henry McConkey, superintendent of the Cunard Line. The nautical experts will «et as advisers and question witnesses, fulfilling very much the same duties as nautical assessors in a British Admiralty Court.