ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 331, 16 May 1877, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

[We wish it to be most distinctly understood that we are not responsible for the opinions expressed by our corresponden ts.J 0 THE WILLIAM GIFFORD. TO THE EDITOR OF THE EVENING MAIL. Sir, —It appears to mo that in the case of that most unlucky of vsssels, the William Gilford, some glaring blunders have been committed. Firstly : Tiie ship, by a perfect masterpiece of seamanship on the part of Captain Sew ell, was got into a comparatively safe position in the bay. In deaanca of tiie fact of her being only half-laden, she was taken from thai: position by her master,, he knowing at the time that she was making more water than was consistent with any idea of sea-worthiness. Secondly : A tug was telegraphed for to meet her at Otago Heads, instead oi being ordered to cruise iu this direction, and lay hold of her as .soon as possible. Had this latter been done, the ship would probably long before this have been safely in dock at Port Chalmers. It has been hinted that the reason for the tug nob coming out was a -disagreement between certain parties as to price. Pounds, shillings, and pence in one scale ; human lives in tiie oilier—ail awkward balance truly. Luckily, however, a minimum portion of the former was saved to tiie salvation of the Maximum. of the latter. The William Gitibrd lies a total wreck—no lives lost—and the Insurance Companies have learnt a lesson which should for ever euro them of their stinginess —sucn a lesson as can only be taught by a heavy toll on their banking accounts. I am. e_"o. Nauticus. [We think our correspondent is somewhat hasty in arriving at tiie conclusions he has. He seems to be oblivious of the fact that at present there is no accommodation for docking a damaged vessel at this port, and t;:at had the Yviuiam Gilford remained here she must irnouestionably have become a total wreck. His statement that the vessel was " making more water than was consistent with any idea of seaworthiness is scarcely true, seeing that Captain Bishop, by the use of the" pumps, succeeded in keeping her afloat for three days—a more than sufficient time than was necessary, under ordinary circumstances, to enable her to reach Port Chalmers. With regard to our correspondent's statements with reference to the securing of a tug, we are ne* in a position to say anything positively on the matter ; but what little we do know of the circumstances therewith connected, warrants us iu expressing the opinion that our correspondent has drawn greatly upon his imagination. That blame is attributable to some one we have 110 doubt, but until the facts of the case are properly km>wn, it is manifestly unfair to attribute that blame to the Insurance ..Companies or anyone else. It would have been well if " l\auticus :; had waited until definite information had been obtained upon the matter before pronouncing his judgment upon the case.—Ed. ii'. ill.]