WARATAH ENQUIRY. COURT RESUMES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 25, 31 January 1911, Page 7

WARATAH ENQUIRY. COURT RESUMES.

EVIDENCE OF THE OWNERS. THE QUESTION OF STABILITY. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright (Received January 31, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, 30th January. The Board of Trade enquiry into tha loss of the Lund liner Waratah, 9000 tons, which disappeared between Durban and Capetown in July, 1909, with 300 persons aboard, was resumed to-day. Mr. J. Dickinson, Metropolitan Police Magistrate, presided, and had with him as assessors Admiral Davis, Commander ■ Lyon (of the Naval Reserve), Professos Walch, and Mr. J. H. Hallett. W. F. Lund, junior, of the firm of W. Lund and Sons, owners of the Waratah, was recalled. Counsel pressed! him to say why he accepted the designer's opinion as to the stability of the vessel in preference to Captain) Ilbery's when urging, the demurrage claim. Witness was unable to say or remember what Captain Hbery said about the rejection of his opinion. William Lund, head of the firm, gave evidence that the builders and his son designed the Waratah. He had not heard that the vessel wac> wanting in stability. Captain Ilbery watched the building of the steamer. He was unable to account for his absence from the important heeling experiments. Mr. Steel, naval architect, deposed that he was satisfied with the vessel's .stability, and believed that the loss waa due to accident. It was inconceivable that she capsized, unless water got in.