THE DOCK DISASTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13355, 8 December 1906, Page 4

THE DOCK DISASTER.

FURTHER EVIDENCE.

INQUIRY ADJOURNED UNTIL

THURSDAY.

The inquest upon the bodies of the victims of the disaster which occurred in Calliope Dock on November 27. during the docking of the s.s. Mumari, was resumed at the Magistrate's Court," before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., at a-qtiarter past two yesterday afternoon. Sergeant Hendry appeared for the police;; Messrs. Cotter.and E. Russell for the Auckland Harbour Board - and Captain Duder (harbourmaster); Mr. F. Earl for the owners, agents, and captain of the s.s. Mamari; Mi-. J. It. Reed for the relatives of Mayall and May; and Mr. E. ■W. Burton for the contractor far. the : shoring of the Mamari, Mr. Brown. ' ■

John Taylor, foreman of works at the Calliope Dock, recalled, said all the work was designed for him, and he merely carried it out. Mr. Banner gave him instructions. to raise the blocks 20in iu tire present instance. Timber was sent over, to him for the top cappings, but, was not of the full width required.,. Wider timber, :he believed, was not procurable. The lateral strappings were put on as his own idea. When ■he fitted up the extra blocks for the Kaikoura. he did it purely as a temporary addition, and : he' had no , idea that another vessel would be placed on them. As far as the docking of the Mamari was concerned, he repudiated any responsibility. .-.'_■■.

Henry Weatherilt, inspector of machinery and surveyor of ships, said he examined the dock after the accident. ' Asked for his opinion as to the cause of the accident, witness said ho considered that this would remain a mystery. He did not see how anyone could say how it was caused. , From what he saw he,formed the opinion that- the block construction which the Mamari was placed was a weak one, and was not sufficient for tin; weight it would have to cany. : Mr. Kettle: Do you consider that it was a prudent thing to dock the Mamari on these blocks without properly examining them at first to see if they were all right? .Witness: No, Ido not. I think they should have been examined. .

In replv to further questions said he considered that it was quite probable that the Kaikoura shifted some of the blocks coming out. : To have made the blocks safer they should ; have been -diagonally stayed or other blocks should have been placed between.'• , . Clias. .Bailey, jun., shipwright and boatbuilder, said he hud had. considerable experience in docking vessels in Auckland. He inspected Ca'liope Dock subsequent to the accident.■■■' It appeared to him that after the blocks had carried the Kaikoura they should: have -carried; the Mamari. He approved of the design of the blocks, and considered that the only- weakness about them was that ..the cappmgs were too narrow. Had he'been in Captain Dnder's place he would have taken the same risk in docking the Mamari without first examining the blocks after the Kaikoura came out. After what had happened, however, ihe would take greater' precautions on a future occasion by placing in: more blocks. .; To Mr. Otter: He could not give any idea as to the cause of the disaster!

To Mr. I'eed : The lower the blocks were kept the batter.' .',. . ' : At this istage (he inquiry was adjourned until Thursday next, at a-quarter past two.