THE MISSING DUCO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14225, 23 November 1909, Page 6

THE MISSING DUCO.

OVERLOADING ALLEGED.

AN ENGINEER'S REGRET.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Monday. The magisterial inquiry into, the loss oi the Wellington Harbour Ferries Company's steamer Dueo was resumed to-day.

John McLean, ordinary seaman, who was on the Duco on her previous trip to the Chathams, said he was steering her on the voyage back. The Duco took a heavy roll, and rolled; over so far that she did not come back. Witness could not make out what had gone wrong. There was some sail on—a small trysail— but that was not sufficient. He woke up the mate, who considered the force of the wind was responsible. Witness disagreed, and th© mate went off the bridge to see what was wrong. ~• He \came back in a rather excited state, and told witness to put her up to the wind. She was full of , water from bow to stern, with her port bulwarks -under. ; The wash porte were lashed, and the water could not get away. Mr. Skye gave orders for the wires to be cut, and the wash ports were opened and the water got away. The Duco was a good seaboat if not overloaded. Henry Charles Guthrie, hulk-keeper on the Countess of Errol, said he had been loading coal on the Duco the day she left for the Chathams. They s put in 60£ tons, and she had about four tons on before they started. ■ They loaded her up to 1.30 p.m. He did not see Captain Stringer order them to cease loading at noon, but he was told that Captain Stringer had given orders not to pile it any higher on deck. ! About four tons were put on deck after this.

Counsel: Was anything said to you by Mr. Menard, the engineer? .

Witness: He said he was sorry he had agreed to go again.

James Meadows, who helped to load the Duco, said he thought there were about 10 tons of coal on deck. The sacks were not lashed.' • ';'::■ r ;:'"\;'7 ■

William Williams, secretary of the Ironworkers' Union, said he was employed on the Duco 18 months ago. He saw her the day before she sailed. She seemed dangerously deep. In his opinion she was a dirty boat at all times. She was a coffin for anyone in her. . ;

s Captain William Bendall, Lloyd's surveyor, said he surveyed the Duco for insurance purposes before her first trip to the Chathams. He and Captain' Abram worked out the weight she must carry to preserve her stability. They made it 130 tons. The Duco was not fit to carry deck cargo. Witness considered Captain Abram, master of the Duco, a capable officer. When he heard the day after the gale that the Duco had gone out with deck cargo he told the owners if there were 20 tons of coal on the Duco'6 decks they would never see her again. s '

The inquiry will be resumed to-morrow afternoon. ; , .'. '.