THE WARATAH ENQUIRY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 63, 24 February 1911, Page 1

THE WARATAH ENQUIRY

THE COMMENT OF THE COURT [nw association.—copyright.] London, Feb. 23. The court stated that there was only conflicting and indirect evidence to go upon, but owing to he absence of wreckage it was of opinion that the Waratah capsized in a gale of exceptional violence, the first great storm she had encountered. It dismissed the theory that her loss was due to an explosion in the bunker coal. The Waratah was properly supplied with boats and life-saving appliances and the crew were considerably in excess of the Board of Trade requirements. It thought that an early opportunity might be taken to consider whether these requirements were sufficient for large passenger ships. The court suggested that a committee of exports should be appointed to decide the minimum stability requirements of different types of vessels, including stability curves. Rules for the stowage of cargo should be framed by the builders for the guidance of shipowners. DiscusF. Lund’s assurance that Captain Dbeiy did not make any report regarding the Waratah’s maiden voyage, the court was unable to understand Übery’s silence concerning her stability. It was contrary to the whole practice of shipowners and shipmasters to treat meh a; matter with the indifferent with which Land and Übery treated it The inference was unfavourable ro the owners and was greatly strong-j thened by the correspondence with] the builders. Apparently a difficulty arose during the initial loading ami the presumption was that: the Waratah was a tender strip when she started bn her maiden; voyage. The court uonsidered that* neither Mr. F. Lund nor Mr. Peck,'

the builder's, account of the inter-; -vie* of April 23rd, was complete. : It added that it could, only leave the matter there. It sharpiy commented on Mr. Land's vs? of the word bluff regarding his letters io; the boalders. The evidence showed that the difficulty waa not snr- 1 ■winded on the oatward or homeward journeys, but tenderness in the upright did not necessarily involve stabiKty at large angles. The explanation of the large amount of ■diverse oomment lay in the undoubted tenderness during the lint voyage and whilst loading. In ■urii a condition it waa observable that Kata could be produced by moderate wind pressures, a relatively small alteration of the water ballast, the consumption of fresh water and the non-symmetrical working out of ooaL The court re-| garded the contradictory state-; meats regarding the rolling as fair-

ly accurate evidence of truthful people about phenomena which they did not understand. The court discredited the story of the steamer Tottenham's reported discovery of bodies. THE COURTS SEVERE CEN- ; SURE. 1 (Received 24, 10.30 a.m.) London, Feb. 23. The "Globe" says the fault in ? the Waratah must have lain in a; hidden defect. The Court was; clearly of opinion that all the facts had not been revealed. It was re- ; markable with a vessel of a new; type, that the captain's correspond-'• ence contained only trivial details.* The court's remark that “Inference. was unfavourable to the owners” 1 waa very severe censure, whereon j comment was unnecessary.