SALVAGE AWARD FOR TOWING THE KAIKOURA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3327, 7 January 1898, Page 4

SALVAGE AWARD FOR TOWING THE KAIKOURA.

A cable recently mentioned that an award had been made for towing the Kaikoura into Rio do Janeiro, and now tba full statement of tbe case is to hand. It was heard in the Admiralty Division on the 19th December. The plaintiffs claimed salvage remuneration for services rendered by the German steamship Wolfsburg to tho Kaikoura, owned by tho New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, in the South Atlantic in August last. Tho Wolfsburg, which is of 1593 tons net register, at tho time of the services was on a voyage from tho River Plato and Buenos Ayres to Calais and Dunkirk, manned by a crew of 27 hands, and laden with general cargo and a deckload of 20OS live sheep. The Kaikoura is of 2SS3 tons net register, and she was bound from Lyttelton and Monte Video to London with general cargo, consisting principally of wool and frozen meat, and bullion valued at <£2-1,340. She also had on board 73 passengers. At about 4.30 p.m. on August 4 the engines of the Kaikoura I became disabled by the breaking cf her shaft when she was 40 miles duo south of Cape San Thome, on the coast of Brazil. Two days later, at about 7.30 pin., the Kaikoura, which had drifted to the eastward, was sighted by the Wolfsburg, making signals of distress. The German steamer at once proceeded towards tho distressed vessel, and, on coming up with her, an agreement in writing was made, whereby the Wolfsburg agreed to tow the Kaikoura to Rio do Janeiro. A connection between the two vessels having been formed, at 2.30 a.ra. on August 7 towage commenced. According to the plaintiffs the Kaikoura steered very badly and ranged heavily, with the result that Rio da Janeiro was not reached until 11 a.m. on the following day. The plaintiffs alleged that by reason of the services the Kaikoura and all on board were saved from a position of grave danger. Her engines were absolutely useless and could not be repaired nt sea, and when sighted by the Wolfsburg she had been drifting for twe days. She was then only 15 miles from Cape St. Thome Banks, towards which she was being rapidly driven by the current and wind In performing the towage the hull and engines of the Wolfsburg were greatly strained, and her owners were put to extra expenses amounting to £523. In defence it was denied that the Kaikoura was in such a position of peril as alleged. She was drifting slowly in a sate direction, the defendants stated, and was in good anchorage ground. Moreover, she was in a region in which she was not likely to encounter bad weather. The value of the salved ship, together with cargo and freight, and tho bullion already mentioned, amounted to £123,007, while that of the Wolfsburg was put down at £61,700. Mr Justice Barnes, in making his award, said that whether the Kaikoura was drifting towards the coast or in the other direction she could not be said to have been in any immediate danger, because she oould at any moment have come to anchor. Still it was pressing that she should be taken in , tow, hot only on account of the large value of tho property at stake, but also for tho sake of the passengers she had on board. She pould not havo got to port without | assistance; The Wolfsburg incurred no greater risk than was to be expectad under the circumstances, but. it wag clear that ! she went greatly out of her way to per- , form the services. He had come to the I conclusion to award the plaintiffs £3OOO with costs.