MISCELLANEOUS.

Bush Advocate, Volume XVII, Issue 25, 31 January 1905, Page 7

MISCELLANEOUS.

A MISSING STEAMER. Grave charges are brought against the Admiralty by, Mr Hugh Flian, owner of the ill-fated Liverpool steamer Juverna, which was lost on, her maiden voyage. He alleges that his ship was sunk by the torpedo-boat destroyer Snapper, and that the Admiralty, are shirking inquiry into the disaster and endeavouring to escape the responsibility of compensation. The Juverna set out from the Clyde on Augustl3, but never reached Kingstown, Ireland, whither she was bound. In St. George's Channel, however* her small boats were found, and near them was a lifebuoy of H.M.S. Snapper. 'Mr Flinn believes tltdt th^ disaster oeeurrod 1 when the Snapper was manoeuvring without showing her lights at night, and states that thd reason she was docked in August was' thct- the damage caused by her collision with the Juverna might be repaired.-. "I have communicated with the Admiralty," he said,, "and have received the usual formal notification that the matter is being attended to. But nothing further has been done, and I am satisfied that nothing will be done by the Admiralty, except that they have suppressed the Board of Trade inquiry, which is always held in the case of shipping casualties. I am satisfied that it was the Snapper which sank my vessel, and that the Admiralty, wish to evade their responsibility. I am not concerned so much about my own loss, which was ... covered by insurance, as by the loss which the families of the eight men who were drowned have suffered. If, as I. contend, the Snapper was to blame for the casualty, the Admiralty ought to compensate these people, and I am determined, if they will not do it voluntarily, to. compel them. They will not escape by delaying to reply to my letter. . I will take steps to bring- them to book' just as I would dp' had the Snapper .been* a privately owned .vessel. I do, not think that private owners would have .tried to. dodge inquiry as the Admiralty are doing. I have asked them for the log of the Snapper, which would show where she was on the night the. Juverna sank, but they will not let me see it."