DANGERS OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 54

DANGERS OF THE SEA.

GOVERNMENT STEAMERS AND THE OHAU.

A deputation from the Federated Seamen’s Union of New Zealand waited on the Hon W. Hall-Jones,' Minister of Marine last Wednesday. Their object as explained by Air Young, who acted as spokesman, was to “bring under notice of t-lie Alinister the manner m which surf work is conducted from the Government steamers, and to make special reference to the disaster at the East Cape on Friday last; also to the wreck of the Oliau.” Air Young and other members of the deputation, all of whom had apparently served ou one or other of the Government vessels, narrated their experiences at some length. Generally speaking, thev complained of the methods adopted of rushing work through, and of the serious risk that attended boat work in bad weather. It was alleged that the boats were frequently ordered out when visiting the lighthouses in a most reckless way, with the result that on many occasions accidents of a serious character were only narrowly averted. Some years ago the trips were done in a more leisurely manner. Nowadavs, however, there seemed to be a rivalry between' the skippers, each of whom tried to accomplish more work in a quicker time than the other. The deputation therefore asked that on the return of tho Hinemoa a full inquiry should be made into the East *Aipe affair; that instructions be given that no risks should be run in surf work; that the officers be instructed to take sufficient time when visiting lighthouses; that no mail should be allowed to have charge of a boat who was not „ competent, steersman —one who had been‘graded from an A.B. for preference. The foundering of the Oliau was also discus-ed by the deputation, and a request made that the carrying of deck cargoes by colliers should be prohibited. . , The Alinister m reply pointed oat that arrangements had been mad 9 tor holding an exhaustive inquiry into the Oliau’s" loss. The Court of investigation would sit in Wellington or elsewhere if evidence could be procured. Ho was determined that the fullest inquiry should be made. With regard to tho statement that the vessel had been overloaded, ho was inclined to doubt that, as from what he had been, able to learn she had below the limit of deck cargo allowed. The question as to whether the load-line in use Melt sufficient freeboard had previously been before him. He had been in communication with the English Board of Trade ou the subject, not only as regarded coastal vessels, but in connection with deep-sea ships. The reply received from the Board was that it did notthink there was sufficient reason to make any change in the present conditions. However, at the Ohau inquiry some valuable information would no doubt be gained as to whether the margin of freeboard permitted on the coast was sufficient. Reverting to the Hinemoa, Air Hall-Jones intimated that the officers had instructions to look carefully after the lives of those under them and after the ship. On no occasion had anything been said or done which could lead them to they had to rush work through. .The facts regarding the East Cape fatality would be brought out at the inquiries in Auckland; consequently, there was nothing to gain by transferring the investigation to Wellington. Of course, if any officer was shown to have deliberately endangered the lives of the men, he would have to answer for it. The suggestions made by the deputation would °receive his consideration and that of the officers of the department. During the discussion the deputation expressed the unanimous opinion that the crew of the Hinemoa were harder worked than the men on any other boat in New Zealand waters. As one sailoi expressed it, “shore people who imagined the steamer to be a pleasure yacht should go out for a trip orlwo. So far as the hours were concerned, he sometimes, after having “breakfast at 6 o’clock, had to wait till half-past 3 before getting anything more to eat, and work hard at le.vT.ig up nub-, av iron and sleepers I urn* the iiuei/al.