A "DOT" OF A STEAMSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13839, 27 August 1908, Page 7

A "DOT" OF A STEAMSHIP.

"CLIMBING TO COMIC OPERA." Before Mr. 0. 0. Kettle, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, Charles Christopher Davis, of Mercer, was charged on the information of the Marine Department, who were represented by Mr. Selwyn Mays, with allowing the steamship Dot to proceed on a voyage without first providing it. with life-saving appliance!;. Mr. A. E. Skelton appeared for the defendant,' and in entering a plea of guilty he stated that the Dot, which name, by the way, was evidently descriptive of the size of the boat, was a launch with a 20ft overall. It was fitted up with a half horse-power engine, which took up one-third of the boat's space, and was used for duck-shooting purposes. The Department said that it must bo fitted up with life-belts, buoys, and a lamp. "It appears to me," remarked Mr. Skelton, "that this is climbing to the realms of comic opera, for the boat is tied up to a tree at Mercer for the greater part of the year. (Laughter.) The boat will now accommodate six passengers, but if it is fitted up with these accessories I think that it will be able to carry only half that number, and they will have to dangle their legs over the side. I think it a most trivial matter." Mr. Kettle: Of course, the whole question is: Is the Dot a steamship? Mr. Skelton : She travels about five miles a year, but unfortunately we have to admit that she is a steamship. Mr. Mays, in saying that it was necessary that such boats should be fitted with lifesaving appliances, recalled an incident which happened last year, when a young man fell off a similar launch, which had rib life-buoys, at St. Heliers Bay, and was drowned in sight of everybody. The Yacht Squadron now compelled owners to carry one buoy, and in the present case had the defendant made amplication for exemption he would probably have been informed that it was necessary for the Dot to carry only one lifebuoy. The Dot was used in the early hours of the morning, and if she were proceeding up stream and struck a snag serious consequences might result. Mr. Kettle: Sho apparently has struck a snag. (Laughter.) The defendant, continued Mr. Mays, had been instructed to have his boat attended to, but had not done so. The maximum penalty for the offence was £100. His Worship said that no doubt the case was taken as a warning to let owners know that steamships must carry life-saving appliances. No doubt Davis had thought the matter a joke, and had thus neglected to have the boat fitted up. He would be fined 10s and costs.