DID RIPPLE HAVE LIST ON LAST TRIP?

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2307, 27 November 1925, Page 7

DID RIPPLE HAVE LIST ON LAST TRIP?

Cqstradictory Tales in Compensation Case “A LITTLE TOUCHY, BUT EASY TO TRIM” • [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON Last Night. Several witnesses gave evidence before the Court when the hearing of the claim for £ISOO damages in the Ripple case was continued. The evidence was somewhat contradictory. While some said the vessel had no perceptible list when she left port, others said when the vessel left the harbour on A*ugust 6. she had a decided . list to port. One, Costello, an able seaman, on the Moeraki, in giving evidence for plaintiff, said the Ripple' had a big list. Had the wharf not been there she would have turned over. When leaving port, the Ripple had a Hat of at least eight degrees. Mr Tomlinson, marine surveyor, said there, was no perceptible list on the vessel. Mr Henderson, marine surveyor and formerly an officer of the Ripple, said she was an excellent seaboat; a little touchy, but easy to trim. It was usual to load the vessel with a list towards the wharf in order to save rubbing aginst the piles, the list being trhymed pwt of her afterwards. On being.cross-examined he said a list of eight degrees would be dan gerous In bad weather Henry Guthrie, foreman stevedore who had charge ot Che loading, said all the heaviest cargo was placed in the hold first, such as fencing wire, corrugated iron tmd jarrah timber. He denied emphatically that theie was a list on the vessel during any portion of the clay of sailing. A tally Clerk said there was no list on the vessel when she left port. At the conclusion of the evidence Mr Watson for the defendant Coy., made formal application to have the ;ase withdrawn from' the jury on the ground that the only possible neglig cncc was negligence on the part of the late chief officer, who was responsible for the loading of trie vessel. His Honour promised to consider the point after both counsel had addressed the Jury. The case was ad journed until to-morrow.