IMPORTANT SHIPPING CASE.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 8, 11 January 1881, Page 2

IMPORTANT SHIPPING CASE.

A case of importance to masters of vessels was heard before Mr. Shaw, R.M., yesterday afternoon. Tho matter and owners of the steamer Manawatu sued the master and owners of the ship Hcrmione for damages sustained to tho Manawatn while lyings at the wharf through the moorings of the* ship Hermione carrying away, itnd causing her to drive on to the steamer. Mr. Ollivier appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr. Xzard for the defendants. Counsel for the plaintiff stated that on the arrival of the Manawatu from Wanganui on the day in question, she was ordered to take a berth alongside the Queen's Wharf, astern of the Hcrmione. Captain Djile made some objecfoa to it, stating that there was not room for him. He, however, berthed hiß vessel as ordered by the authorities. While he was there it came on to blow hard, and the Hermione parted her spring and drove down on the Bteamer, doing the damage complained of. — Captain Doile, in his evidence, stated that the Manawatu was moored by the steamer's hands, and not by die harbor authorities. The Manawatu' s stern was 4ft from the rudder of the the Hermione, bnt the quarter of the ship was over the steamer's deck. The signalman made no objection to the way the Manawatu was moored. Witness had to uaship poitiona of his gear to enable him to get to the berth. It camo on to blow, and the Hermione parted her spring and drove down oq tho Bteamer, carrying away several Btanchions, and doing other damage to the extent of £6 11s §d.— George Long, signalman, in the employment of the Harbormaster, stated that he remembered ordering the Manawatu to take a berth astern of the Hermione. The Hermione was moored in the usual way.— Captain Haliday Harbormaster, stated thut he snperintendtd the mooring of the Hermione. Considered the Manawatu had rather close quarters at the berth she was in. The chain belonging to the Hcrmione was a suitable one, and was" according to Lloyd's rules. When a Bhip was moored there was always a little skek chain. The slack waß hove" in after the first breeze. He did not know whether tho chain in the present instance had been hove taut. He did not consider it

was part of the Harbormaster's doty to see the slack of tht chain hove home. It should be done by the captain. — R. S. Martin stated that he was manager of the steamer Ma&awatu. Ho hod received orders to berth his vessels bringing wool as close to the wool-shed as possible. — Pilot Sims said that he remembered the day in question. It blew harder than it had done for a very long time. Remembered the captain telling witness that his ship would break away again the same as on a previous occasion. The Hermione was moored properly.—The captain of the Pleione stated that hia vessel was moored the same as the Hermione. He was surprised that the master of the Manawatu should have gone into the berth astern of the Hermione. He considered the captain was wrong, notwithstanding being ordered there by the signalman. — His Worship, after carefully reviewing the circumstances of the case, gave judgment for plaintiffs for the amount churned and costs.