SALVAGE CLAIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25319, 28 September 1945, Page 9

SALVAGE CLAIMS

STRANDING OF KOTOR SETTLEMENT AT £BOOO settlement was announced to Mr justice Callnn yesterday of the claims for salvage brought by several plaintiffs against the steamship Kotor, Watkin and Wall is, agents (.Mr H. P. Richmond and M r Butler). The plaintiffs had all taken part in the refloating of the gotor, which was stranded on .Tune 2.'5, J944, on a sandy beach two miles south 0 f North Cape. The Auckland Harbour JJoarrl (Mr Barrowclough) brought, claims estimated at £5050; the Union gteam Ship Company of New Zealand, Limited (Mr C. G. White and Mr Garland) claimed £'5000; the Admiralty as owner of the corvettes Waipu, Sanda anc l Killogray (.Mr A. K. Turner), claimed £IOOO, and the officers and jjipn of these vessels (Mr V. K. Meredith) claimed £;'>000, making a total of £14,050. The hearing of the story of the rescue of the Kotor occupied the Court for several days a fortnight ago. jlr Richmond said he was happy to announce that a settlement, had been arrived at for a total sum of £BOOO inclusive of costs. The itemised amounts were: I'or the Harbour Hoard ami officers and crew of the tug, £.'5100; for the Union Steam Ship Company and employees, for the ollicers and cr ew of the Navy, £750; and for the Admiralty, £'.KK). \lr Garland said lie took it that judgment- would be entered for this amount and leave reserved to make application for apportionment among the crews. gis Honor said that would be so, and if >t became necessary separate representation of the parties to this apportionment would be arranged. His Honor added that during the hearing of the case lie bad made considerable progress in speculating as to what was a fair proportion of the values salved to award to the salvors, and the figure he arrived at was £BOOO.