SCHOONER'S LONG STAY IN PORT

Evening Star, Issue 17087, 4 July 1919, Page 3

SCHOONER'S LONG STAY IN PORT

For over three months an American fourronsted schooler, the Alert, lay idle at a berth' at the Victoria wharf, Duned'in, and it was -only a few week? ago that the reason for her long stay here wos made known. Even then the facts of the ease were only known, to those directly concerned, and now that the vessel has at last put to eea on the return journey to America an aocount of the schooners history since she first reached this port will be read with interest. The Alert arrived here on March 15 last with a cargo of case oil from Sail Francisco to the agency of Messrs A. S. Paterson and Co. She was berthed at the Victoria wharf, and when \vav cargo bad been discharged it waa found that about 4,000 case.? of assorted oils bad been more or less damaged by salt water, which had found' its way into the hold during a spell of rough weather cm the passage down from San Ifrtaicisco. The cargo, a-s it was landed, was scited out, and tho dnmaged portion had to be reconditioned before, the actual amount of the loss could be arrived at by the consignees. Whwi this had been done the consignees estimated the amount of the damage to bo £1,400, and a claim was thereupon made against the ship for that amount. The captain, who is a part owner of the schooner, refused to acknowledge the claim, and, although the consignees signified their willingness to reduce the amount, the master decided to fight the ease out in the Supreme Court. The captain was under the impression that his ship was held tip, and if be bad known otherwise there would have been nothing to prevent him hoisting pail and putting to sea. Matters remained at a deadlock for days, and the master then said that he intended to make a counter-claim against the consignees for demurrage, at the rate of £3O per day. Nothing more was done in the matter for some weeks, and the consignees then accepted the captain's oiler of £SOO as a settlement, of the ckim. The master called oft' bis claim for demurrage, and the ship would have put to sea a fortnight ago but for the fact that during the long interval she lost the services of nearly all her crew. Eventually, however, the necessary new seamen were engaged locally, "and the Alert was towe-d out to sea at 11 'a.m. on Monday, bound for Hormiom. Gray's Harbor. The schooner's delay at Dunedin must result in a tinar.cial Joss to the owners, as, had the case been settled when the consignees made the claim over ■three months ago, the Alert could have completed the run back to America, loaded another cargo, and probably have sailed again on another voyage, lhe vessel can carry over 21,000 caws of oils under batches. Then, again, there baa to be U:ikcn into consideration the expanse involved during her stay at Dtinedin., which brought in a fair sum for the Harbor Board. The total expense in connection with the vessel's stay at this port was about £250, the principal items being £7O for berthage and £137 for pilotage, port charges, towago, removals, crane, and telephone charges, etc., making a total of £207 paid to the Harbor Board.