FLOATING DOCK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2200, 23 February 1869, Page 2

FLOATING DOCK.

To Uie Editor of the Otaoo Daily Times.

Sir—l wish to correct a few remarks of Messrs Murray and Co.,'of tho Floating Dock, which appeared in your yesterday's issue. ■In the first placo, on my arrival in this port from Newcastle, I asked. Mr Murray, if there were any vessels engaged for the Floating Dock. He said thero were none ; I then told him that tho Prospector would go into the Dock if I could not find the leak after I had lightened her. Mr Murray's answer was, "I wiU be most happy to take tho Prospector into tho Dock, as there is no other vessel, before her.". lask Mr Murray if he would havo taken the Prospector in with a fuU cargo of coaL In the third place, I ask him if a vessel making six feet of water in twenty-four hours in fine weather, is not a vessel in dißtresa in the open ocean. It would be a very poor recommendation for the Port of Otago if a vessel was in distress, after she had been towed in and anchored in- safety, not to have the accommodation of tho Dock when ready. 1 camo into tbis port for help, and applied for it before tho a.s.. "Wanganui was within hundreds of miles of this port. Whatever roles Mr Murray haa for working the Dock I cannot say, but this I know, that 1 wont to Captain Thomson, Harbour Master, and asked if there were any rules for working the Floating Dock. Ho told me he did not know of any, but the rules for tbe chargea, wbich had been aancI turned by tho Government; but to be certain, ! the Harhoiw Maater and myself went off to

the Dock, and saw Mr Murray, who told us that there were none, only the rules for the charges. Mr Murray need not say tbe rules were never asked for. Whatever Mr Murray's rules may bo for working the Dock, I may say that there ix very little encoutagement it» tliis case to any ono coming here in distress. It is understood all over Great Britain that a vestel putting into a part in a leaky Atate, a vessel off the " Strand," cki'irs tbe Dock or Patent Slip os soon as she is ready to go in, and doemotlie waitingherti ru for a vessel that had not yet entered the Port for tbe puqjoso of scraping and painting.—l am, &c,

Alexander Thomsos, Master of barquo Prospector.