STRANDING OF A SCHOONER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19513, 23 June 1925, Page 8

STRANDING OF A SCHOONER.

OWNER SUES UNDERWRITER S. t. '■ (Pee United Peess Association.) ' ■ GISBORNE, June 22. "’'Hie stranding of the schooner War Lord at Waikokopu on July 7 of last year, and !tie subsequent refusal of the underwriters to reimburse the owners to the extent of ijZSSO, for which the vessel was insured arfa’iiffit 1- absolute total loss, was the basis of ah action commenced in the Supreme Court to-day. The owner of the ship was Lionel George Clare, with whom the National Bank was joined us plaintiff. The defendants were the Canton Insurance Compdtiy. “ . The plaintiffs contend that the ves»ei total loss; therefore they were enmfisp .tbi recover the insurance. The defence alleges, firstly, that the vessel was not properly equipped as required under the “terms of the policy; and, secondly, •hat ’ the vessel was not an absolute total toss/. The allegation is also made that the •VeSSbl, would not have been a complete }(JsS 'bifid proper steps been taken to refloat it’ after the stranding. , Captain John Lowry described the circumstances of the stranding. He anchored in the centre of the bay,_ a mile off shore. The starboard anchor, which weighed lOcwt, was put out on a 60 fathoms chain. Heavy seas were running, and the cable parted. A second and lower anchor had had to be slipped on the previous trip, and was then on the wharf waiting tor them. Iwo hedges lashed together were put over the stem, but th e schooner grounded on the sandy bottom, and was gradually washed up on the beach. Had the scwt anchor been aboard it would not have availed them anything. , , . , . Mr Justice Ostler: If you had had two anchors you would have had both out during the gale._ , Witness: Not necessarily. He added that he was quite content to proceed to aea with the ship equipped as she was. The vessel was better equipped than was required by the Marine Department. Captain Lowry detailed the salvage operations, stating that there had been no unnecessary deiay in setting to work. ivo expense had been spared in securing C ea *- Cross-examined by Mr Myers, witness stated that he was first offered the salvage gear oh July 8, but he did not obtain it till July 14. Witness denied telling the Waikokopu wharfinger, after receiving a telegram from Clare advising h ! ln not to incur heavy expenditure, that the salvage gear would not be wanted. He also denied alleged conversations with the same man and Mr Somerfieid (chairman of the W aikokopu Harbour Board), and also Mr '' cav that the vessel was floating on July 16 ana lie could have got the vessel oft with a hedge and a good rope. , , Duncan Hector M Donald, mad.ng ham on the War Lord, detailed the salvaging work, stating that the vessel was raised 6tt 7in, but this was unsuccessful on account of the anchors coming home. The vessel was subsequently raised to 4ft <m, ““ breakages in the gear and a big sea spoiled al LiondGeorge Clare, managing owner ot the vessel, said the ship was insured for £2650. Witness was in Wellington at the lime of the accident, and hearing of the stranding, he advised the captain to make every effort to get the boat off. The cost ol salvage operations had been iliou. vyic ness admitted sending telegrams advising that it might be better to hand oyer the vessel to the insurance company if the expense of salvaging was too high. LrosS; examined by Mr Myers, witness .stated that Fred Hall had a third share m the ship, but his share was not covered by insurance. W. F. Cederwall also had a .tmrd share. Witness said he informed the msu - anc e company wheir the policy was taken out that only witness s and Cederwall o shares were being covered by insurance. The court adjourned until to-morrow.