SEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS SALVAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12213, 7 March 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

SEVEN THOUSAND POUNDS SALVAGE.

STORY OF AN ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE IN A BOAT.

In the Admiralty Court, 011 January 17, Mr. Justice Bueknill and Trinity Masters concluded the hearing of the salvage claim brought by the owners, master, and crew of the London steamship Naming, of the Blue Anchor Line, v. the owners of the Melbourne steamer Boveric, her cargo, and freight. The Naming, 5078 tons, a mailboat under contract with the Australian Governments, was bound from Albany to Natal and Capetown, having on board 41 first-class and 110 second-class passengers. On the night of May 9, 1902, she fell in with the steamship Boveric, a vessel of 3987 tons, carrying mails for South Africa, and having on board 960 horses destined for the military operations then proceeding in the Transvaal. The Boveric had broken her tail-end shaft and lost her propeller on April 4, and a week latei> hei first and second officers and two seamen, who had volunteered for the job, left the disabled vessel in a provisioned lifeboat for the coast of Australia, in order, if possible, to procure assistance for the Boveric. This lifeboat reached Fremantle, a distance of between 1200 and 1500 miles from where the Boveric had broken down, on May 9— the very day on which the Naming fell in with her in lat. 31-10 S., long. 101-31 S.E. Plaintiffs' vessel towed the Boveric to Fremantle Bay, a distance of 867 miles. Her value was stated at £62,000, her cargo £177,400, including £50,000 specie for the Cape, freight at risk £6386, and passage money, £3174. The value of the Boveric was. stated at £25,225, and her cargo and horses at £5021 10s, freight nil; defendants pleading that a lump sum, £5800, paid in respect of the conveyance of the remounts had been entirely absorbed in the cost of landing, maintaining, and shipping the animals at Fremantle, after the salvage of their vessel ,by the Naming. Plaintiffs disputed the correctness of defendant's values, and elicited that the Boveric was insured for £41,000, and the horses in question for £20,000. His lordship awarded the plaintiffs £7000 — to the owners, £500 to the master, and £1250 to the crew according to rating. ;