COMPASS ADJUSTMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3004, 16 December 1896, Page 2

COMPASS ADJUSTMENT.

A deputation, representing roasters, of ooeaij.-going and n/arine guporinteudents, ■jye-ifced qn the sqn W. Hqdl-Jpnea, Minister of Marina, iflornwg, for the purpose of protesting against tb® regulations which compel the masters of ocean-going vessels to adjust their compasses before leaving the port of ‘Wellington. Among those E resent were Captain Koso (Now Zealand hipping Company), Captain Cabot (Shaw, Savill and Albion Company), Captain East (Tyser 'Line), ’Captain Kennedy (secretary Shipnjastors 1 Association/ Captains Bowling, broker. Bate and Simpson and the Hon E. BiohardsW '"■■■' ' ■ The deputation was introduced l?ytho Hon C. Johnston. Captain Babot said that his company had at Ih'c pipsont time four sailing ships in the stream, the "masters of which* had instructions from the CoUootor of Customs that.it was necessary for them to adjust their compassgfl before they '-would be granted clearances, of those vessels had been lying in the stream for months, during which time they had swung around in all directions, so that the captains had had every opportunity of adjusting their compasses and noting the deviations. Those captains had each been in ohargo for many years, and wore responsible men, and were perfectly satisfied with their own adjustments, and naturally protested against any whatever with their adjustments. The English Board of Trade regulations did not compel a vessel to be swung, provided the captain or the chief officer had made a previous voyage id the ship. On behalf of his Company ho respectfully protested against the enforcement <?f the Agt, 09 the grounds that it was useless, dangerous and The enforcement of these regulations was a reflection on the competency of the captains trading to the port of Wellington, Captain East said that the ships of the Tyser line wore fitted with Sir William Thompson’s patent adjustable compasses, it )fpuld be distinctly dangerous to interfere wiS* ‘ Captain Hose pointed out that ft® had recently been on a .trip to England, and ho noticed there was' not .a day, whpa if was possible to do so, that the compasses were not adjusted. His experience was that it was dangerous to interfere with the ship’s ootn- : passes? and magnets. The regulations were harassing |q hitters of vessels in other . ways, nsifc mganf a‘4el%y s’4*s% which was sometimes a irmttofof cqtisiqernhle consequence to steamers, especially qa those intimations were sprung upon at very , abort notice. Captain Simpson, master of the Star of Now Zealand, pointed out that his compasses had been adjusted about 19 months-ago by the representative of Sir William Thompson b patent, and there, was netting in the Home Board of Trade regulations to compel the adjustment of the compasses. He had been casualty. * ' . . •The Hon W. Hall-Joncs sai4 he recognised that the members of the deputation wore , practical men, and that there were some slight objections to the adjustment the compasses os required by the Act. With regard to the contention that these regulations were only enforced in this port, he would point out that as the regulations had onjy pome into force recently there had not been sufficient time to appoint adjusters in other parts of the Colony. He could understand their feelings and their •objootions when strangers came on. board their vessels to interfere with their compasses. He wished them to understand there was nothing In the Act to harass masters of vessels, and it was rathep the Intention to Assist theuj tQ 990 that every care was taken. He would give very carofijl consideration to the matters to which his attention had been drawn, and would look minutely into the question. The Government had no desire to cause ‘ any inconvenience to the shipping tra4e, ahd jhe ! would consider these regulations and* see what alterations could bo made with regard to foreign-going vessel*. ' .'Tin depntatiort then thanked the Minister, an-t *Uba-«w.-V > ‘ •