THE STEAMSHIP "WILLIAM DENNY."

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1020, 7 April 1857, Page 3

THE STEAMSHIP "WILLIAM DENNY."

To the Shareliolchrs of the William Dtnny and the Public per favour of the Southern Cross. Gentlemen,— lt was with some surprise I read a long letter of Mr. Morton's, in the 'New-2Jealander' of Satur-

day last, oddi eased to the shareholders of the William Denny, to correct, as he states, certain misrepresentations thrown upon him. As one of the shareholders prespnt on board the Denny with Mr. Morton I would like to make a few lemnrks on his letter. He was, he says, examined at length by the Directors and very much to their satisfaction, as is proved bv their sending him at once to the scene of his expected labours. Very true, the directors were glad to be infirmed the ship could be repaired where she then lay, at a trifling cost, and with the facility Mr Moi h'rt them to suppose, instead of burking his plan, as that gentleman would lead people to infer. Every body concerned—Captain, Directors, and Shareholders, would have been pleased had Mr. Morton shown by his actions on board the Denny that he wonld be likely to piove his assertion in Auckland; the hundred pounds for which he stipulated would have been paid him with a degree of readiness and alacrity, quite foreign to folks in general when they have to put their hands in their pockets. Arrived on board the Denny, Mr. Morton states his plan was greeted w ith a general laugh Perhaps so ; I was not on board so soon as he was by a few minutes ; but, as he sa3'S, so doubtless it is true. It only proves, however, that officers, engineers, and all on board felt his plan to be impracticable in the present case ; and Mr. Morton himself subsequently endorsed their opinion bv his wish to have the vessel moved for him to another place. I was standing under the bridge with Captain Mailler whilst Mr. Morton was explaining to him his views, and I distinctly heard him answer one of Captain Mailler's questions with the words, — "but you must move the vessel on to that place (pointing with his finger) so thnt I can get at the holes." Captain Mailler laughed, and said to move the vessel to a safer place was just the thing they wanted to do ; if she were high and dry his own engineers could temporarily repair damage as well »s any bjdy else ; it was madness to think of attempting it where she then lay. Mr. C. Davis spoke to Mr Morton on the subject of his coming on board to repair the holes, I believe in the presence of the chief officer and, as he stated to the meeting last Tuesday, told Mr. Morton he considered his coining there an imposition on the Company. Mr. Brodie also, who was on board during the survey, stated to the meeting that instead of appearing able to mend the holes many feet under water, as the men undertook to do, they seemed reluctant to wet their feet. Mr. Morton still asserts (or some one writing for him does) that he could by his plan, and at inconsiderable expense, succeed in the complete reparation of the vessel. Why then did he not attempt something when the chance was in his hnnds, instead of asking to have the vessel removed first ? IJo not by these remarks wish to call into question or under-rate Mr. Morton's professional knowledge or ability in ordinary cases of repaii ing ships/ bottoms ; but Ido think his plan not applicable to the present case, and I believe every man who has seen the ship feels that it is visonary ; as also some of the other schemes submitted for consideration would appear to their concoctcrs, it once on board the vessel. I do not speak on this subject without some knowledge. Though a young man I have had many years practical experience in these matteis, in what is allowed to be the most dangerous navigation in the world — the river Hooghly and Sandheads in the Bay of Bengal. With regard to saving the Denny, everything depend* upon line weather ; but if she ever comes off the North Cape, and is carried into safety, it will be done under the management and diiection of a sailor. Mr. Morton may then be employed to mend her bottom, and nobody vi ill doubt his capability. Had Mr. Morton felt himself aggrieved it would have boen far more manly to have come before the general meeting with a definite charge, or, at least, to have written his letter to the Directors, instead of a newspaper, the matter could then ha\e been investigated at the adjourned meeting. Instead of which he tries, by a side- winded advertisement afterwards, to lead the public in Auckland and at a distance to infer that he has not been fairly treated. At the meeting his statements could hnve beon publicly controverted, which i would have been embodied in the report of the meeting. Mr. Morton has not only lost the £100 but has also, it is evident, lost his temper ; consequently is determined to have a hit at somebody to console himself for his double loss. Captain Mailler is the best mark at present. So Mr. Morton would lead the public to think he had not had proper opportunity of judging ot the state ot the vessel. Captain Mailler did not go into the hold with him. " The plan which so captivated the Diiectors in town was at one full swoop of Captain Mailler *s too authoritative arm, consigned to the bottom of the sea." "Captain Mailler does not perhaps know what is the matter with the vessel." "Captain Mailers opinion too much taken," and so forth. This is pitiful. Captain Mailler 's responsibility and inteiest in the ship is too great to admit of his sanctioning any scheme which he feels to be visionary ; and, after Mr. Morton's request to have the ship moved for him, no doubt thought his time better employed in getting himself ready to leave for Auckland, arranging with his officers work to be done during his absence, &c, than it would have been in pacing the deck with that gentleman. With regard to assistance and proper opportunities of judging not having been gianted Mr Morton, I can only say that he was on board from daylight until one o'clock, and could in that time have examined as much as he pleased ; further, at his request, the survey was delayed some hours to gire him an opportunity of seeing the vessel at dead low water. The chief engineer also had instructions to point out to Mr. Morton the position and magnitude of the holes as far as they had been discovered, and, I believe, did go through the hold with him, and give him all the information and assistance in his power. In conclusion I would wish to state that I do not stand forward as the apologist of Captain Mailler. He has sought an investigation, and I honestly believe that no committee of competent nautical men w ill condemn him. Be that as it may, he is quite able to fight his own battles. I usually keep myself aloof from the differences of both individuals and parties. I like fair play, and in this case, as I would always do, stand up for it. I have written this letter simply because I cannot let Mr. Morton's strictures on Captain Mailler, and guarded insinuations on others, go forth to the Australian Colonies unchallenged and uncontradicted. I am, &c, Rouekt S. Caiiteu. Official Bay, Auckland, April 6, 18->7.