ALLEGED OVERCROWDING.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13461, 29 June 1909, Page 9

ALLEGED OVERCROWDING.

CAPTAIN OF THE S.S. CYGNET PROSECUTED.

> Alexander John Murray, master of '"* t_« *"- s ' Cygnet, appeared at tbe Lytieltott Magistrate's Court yesterday, jjfore Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., titxged with carrying passengers on '•■ 12th, at Akaroa, between the [ vbsrf and tho Mararoa, in excess of +JSO number specified in a certificate is- • gjrtd by the Secretary to the Marine - Department. " Mr A. Elliott, Collector of Customs, prosecuted, and Mr Weston defended. v Jlr Elliott said that the information yraa laid ucder section 174 of the Ship- - p|Qg and Seamen Act. This section pjoyided for the issue of certificates md the number of passengers allowed ft be carried on any part of the ship, jjd any conditions and variations to that number was subject. Tho deferidaut was charged with carrying pgaengers in excess of tho number allowed, and the law provided that if tbe f__js wero proved he was liable to a not exceeding £20 for each offence 5a for each passenger he carried above the number so allowed. As to the fine of 5s per head, he would waive that, as it was impossible to say how jbtny WW6 carried. Phillip James Carman, Inspector of and Survoyor, said that he forveyed tho Cygnet and allotted the ; number of passengers to be carried. He * allotted 366 within river limits or : (Diepth water. The main deck was allowed 258, cabin 25, bridge and top of > : _ccl_bou_e 83, making in all 366. On ""■- the main deck three square feet per :. .'sattenger was allowed, while on the . ondgo and top of the deckhouse nine square feet per passenger was apportioned. This space permitted of a \|»g6enger moving about, and they would . not be packed Kke sardines in a tin. .':,-> To Mr Weston: Three square feet would allow a person to pass through euilv. Tbe length of the boat was (I2oft, and the beam 17.3 ft. The main I deck was 776 ft clear of everything, and t-W.bridgo and top of deckhouse 754 ft. - '. Wilcocks, Assistant Superin- ' pendent of Mercantile Marine at Lytteltoin, and a surveyor of ships, said ~''th-ttlie was a passenger by the Cygnet ;.; :; tb : -_be Mararoa on April 12th. He /-jTfiw, on tho fore-deck, which was

"vtt-wded —it was overcrowded. Be V could only see as far as the bridge, and j ;C3-fef»'*****•*■ no * room enough to raise his '; : .''»nn_. He could see rsome passengers •ii-.'itanding on the far sido of the bridge, v'ltut he could not say whether they were &-'-: ; jijiek_4 or not. The master had room the. wheel. ?./" To Mr Weston: About half of the main deck was aft of the bridge. Cap- ' :t*in Murray showed extremely good , :.ii«aai_fihip. ■ ??% .Sergeant Ryan said that he was on U rdirfjj. in Akaroa on April 12th. When ..*fl__t''Ti-_ited the wharf the Cygnet was -fjloSding for hor first trip to trie Mara. Coiustable Whatman had charge v of the gangway j. and Captain Murray . <e»lled tohiin to let a few of the older aboard. . He then told the to block the gangway, and S'&JMer called to.him to let a few more] ||joif the passengers aboard. He thought | tfir<M_ttnt "was made. He notioed noising ■•.till- tit© vessel began to back wharf,, and'he saw., the. il*j^f^rt'was crowded. He did not Ipjpirat tho aftportion of the^vessel, ttyuitf couldnot•.-say whether it was osttird&i sho.''. Oxford, a Customs landing waiter, at Akaroa to control the traife«V"ttud he returned from the "wharf to in the Cygnet. He ws* the alleyways between the; *"■"_■» -doseljr packed.. ; There was only f.'OM--fer-' two' '.oi-'.- thr«<- at'- the"; roost "at. ■ p-S-i 1 spot.'- ■ • He/did', hot' ae* the aft th* 'ship.: ';■ Be <*>nside;rw she oyer her number, but he could not 'sgpßS.tho whole of"tbo' ship.! '.' tySfipS* Mr /Weston- Sh* wm a small boat. not at all_certaih of the numa;^JW : "■"•'■-■■ l^lfr'-^ Illuming:; waiter, said- h$ ,w», on .Vthe when the CJymet her ttlai_rn'jounwy.-y In hii opinion, ®-hfe;Cj , gnet; was ■ oyerorowded. ■•■ At -the • ip_^_B»-tho cairie alongside; the |f he- was taking the- pjussenget* §||rjs ._ame hy the John ■ Anderson- : ■• He plittl&_^ ||irt_t_jh. : was on the other side of tho of ■ 'the v John |#>A^_t-On,wa* cautioned. Th 6: Cygnet |S^S^wo*ded ; ':on' hei* second trip. ; wiw ;-ab-' evidence that the ship watt more pwwenger* than _d_qws3 ! Not -isihfjlewitnete'had taken of tho ship, and Eiip^; : -the -was ©a*ry r P?|n»'gtveh hesitatingly and some parts |JMate ship wer© unnoticed. TBer* '.was onwhich »" coif- ■; g^ti-fon could safely be made. He pointwaA a legil j?«»obtiti<m were entered '-. |||iß^i!» f Mrion»:.ft)r tho' mister ofthe proiseont-k)n--had.::.-o fepyh«*Bt»d' reasonable donbt that do-. and' ll.l_S* , s* '*&' no **rideneer indioat* that. the caae should bo difsaid an allowance* of *n'' elaborat© bo. pretty ffl%_W_}oWrt>fc*i : Tho '■ : only -ovSenpo 'Ps&S&£&-i v *' **&**s *o- the lore part ||s»||feShojt,'. an*- -Hiero. wa* *bsbiute?y show what was tho state ;M«r^M^^rt-"- There was not suffitl f ''___i#*l &sP*Q C ? ■'■ *°' . *"*"ak©.-- him -consider m^^W*' o ™™ lo "-***-' Th© cisc .'.'—■