SEAWORTHINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1937, Page 11

SEAWORTHINESS.

SCOWS CONDITION.

CONFLICTING EVIDENCE.

SHIPWRIGHTS' OPINIONS.

Conflicting evidence on the condition of the scow rangi at the time of her capsizing was given by shipwrights at the Marine Court of Inquiry yesterday afternoon.

Resuming his evidence Captnin J. D. Bell, master of the scow Altair, said that he had often seen the Rangi in heavy weather, and considered her seaworthy. "I hifte often been aboard her, and considered her to be a well-found vessel," added witness. "The owners had not been niggardly. They had spent a good deal of money on her from time to time to keep her in good condition."

Asked whether he considered the installation of wireless in such vessels as the Rangi desirable, witness said that he did not think Captain Petersen, master of the Rangi, would have sent out a wireless message for assistance until, probably, the last half-hour before the vessel capsized, in which case it would have been too late to give him assistance. That four Auckland scows . had been lost rn the past nine months was, in witness' opinion, purely a coincidence. "There has just been a run of accidents," said witness, "just as there has been a run of accidents with steamers at Wellington." In answer to Mr. Goulding, witness said that since 1900 he had been to sea in all types of sailing vessels, and considered that scows compared favourably in seaworthiness with other types. The wind on January 24 was a heavy gale from the east-south-east. Scow's Dangerous List. Witness said that the Rangi's list, when he saw her, was between 15 and 20 degrees, which he considered "dangerous enough." It was some time after passing the Rangi that he saw two logs, presumably part of the Rangi's cargo. The sight of these decided him to signal Mount Victoria. To Mr. Moody, witness said that he knew Captain Petersen for an experienced and prudent seaman, who would not take undue risks and. who would not be careless in the stowing of cargo. The master of the steamer Rangitoto, Captain A. Peart, said on January 14, bound from Auckland to Great Barrier, he was unable to pass Cape Colville, and at 7 p.m. anchored in Cabbage Bay. The wind was blowine a heavy gale. Evidence of having carried out repair work on the Rangi towards the end of last year was given by William Brown, shipwright, who said that the work was done at Captain Petersen's request. Witness said that the owners of the vessel gave Captain Petersen a "free hand" in the maintenance of the vessel. She was in good condition. "In Splendid Order." The Rangi was described by Ernest Charles James Bailey, shipwright, as one of the best-constructed scows in Auckland. Witness said that since the wreck he had examined the stern of the vessel at Brown's Bay and the main portion of the hull at Tryphena. The up-and-down fastenings were in splendid order. Some of the plank-end fastening spikes had deteriorated, but were compensated for by bolts. . He saw no fastenings that indicated inherent weakness, but some of the fastenings which could not be seen might be weak or rusted away. The vertical fastenings in the sides of a scow could not be withdrawn for examination. They were there for the life of the vessel. Those in the Rangi had been there for 33 years and he considered that it was time they were reinforced by additional fastenings. Witness said that he had never seen better kauri than that in the bull of the Rangi.

Cross-examined by Mr. Walsh, witness said he had examined about 12 perfastening. Not all were in good ..ider. riu-y eoiild not he expected to be after 33 year*. Additional perpendicular fastenings had been put in.

In anwer to Mr. Moody, witness eaid that everything in the Rangi was "first-clas*. -. The owners had never "skimped" money in keeping the vessel m repair. "Holes and Rust." Called by Mr. Walsh, William Lindsay Horn, shipwright, eaid that when he examined the Rangi at Campbell's Bay she was lying on her side. The fore-and-aft planking on the port side wae opened up about half an inch. He could see through the seams. The oakum had been "spewed" out by escaping air. The bottom (>lank had broken adrift. The through bolts could be traced up the side of the ship. They were originally one-inch bolts, but at' the yearns they were corroded until they were from Jin to Jin thifk. The after-end bottom planking was gone.

"The reason \va« that where the fastenings of the planks had been there was a display of holes ami patches of rust," stated witivess. ''The last two bottom planks were hanging in the wind. In one the remaining fastening of three was left. The breaking of the bottom plank and chine from the rest of the «hi]> had carried away the iron straps or kneps, which were badly corroded at the bend. Bolts were corroded in parts from original thickness of Jin down to Jin." Every one of the vortical fastenings, which witness saw was. he declared, deteriorated. The vertical fastenings could be exposed for an annual survev. but not withdrawn.

Witness attributed the loss of the Rangi to her getting into an awkward position, receiving a severe buffeting and springing a serious leak, through the deteriorated condition of the main fastenings.