THE GOVERNMENT REFUSE TO DETAIN UNSEA WORTHY SHIPS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1170, 12 November 1880, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT REFUSE TO DETAIN UNSEA WORTHY SHIPS.

At the meeting of the Dunedin Harbour Board a few days since Mr. Paterson asked if it had lv.;eu the duty of the Harbour Board offi-:ia ! 3 to interfere in the matter of the Oiara Hargrave going to sea, on account of her unseaworthiness. He thought that if it was not the duty of the Board's officers to interfere, or if it was their duty and their part of it had been discharged, the fact should be made public, so that the public might know who was responsible for the vessel being permitted to go to sea. The Chairman replied that Captain Thompson had done all he was empowered to do in the matter, and if members choose the Harbour-master could be called in to explain what had been done. The members of the Board assented, and Captain Thompson was called in. The Chairman informed Captain Thompson that the question of the Clara Hargrave had been brought before the Board, and the Board wished to know whether in his official capacity he had done anything to secure her detention. Captain Thompson said : The usual course is that when a complaint is made as to the unseaworthiness of a vessel the Collector of Customs requests me to report. In this case there was a c miplaint and he requested me to inspect the vessel and report. I did so, and reported that the vessel was out-and-out uuseaworthy. The vessel's rudder was all adrift from the hanging chains ; she was all shaking and loose, through bumping on the bar at K.iipara. There was also an anchor and one whole chain-cable short, and the inside of the vessel was completely gone, the fastenings having shaken loose and the timber being unsound. I gave a report in writing to the Collector of Customs. I reported on the memorandum he sent me. I have a copy of the carpenter's report. The chairman . You did not feel called upon, of course as Harbourmaster to take action in the matter 1 Captain Thomson : No. It is for the Collector of Customs to stop the vessel, on being authorized to do so from Wellington. The Collector, on receiving my report, reported to the Marine Department as to the unseaworthiness of the vessel, and messages were going backwards and forwards between Dunedin and Wellington for two days. On the the third day the final message was received from the Marine Department, and was an order to detain the vessel if the Underwriters' Association would secure the Government to the extent of i £100 in the event of a law suit, or something of that kind. There has been expenses incurred in the detention' ' of vessels, which have fallen upon the Government, and the Underwriters' Association, ?or rather, their surveyor, was the party who complrined ofjthe unseaworthiness. Mr. Burt : And the Government expect the Underwriters' Association to indemnify them against costs ? Captain Thomson : Yes ; they telegraphed that if the Underwriter 1 Association would insure them to tha extent of £100 against loss . the vesge" was to b) detained. We went to the Association ;

the Association declined to do so, and there was. nothing left for the Collecior to do but clear the /essel. Mr. Paterson : It says very little for the Government. Mr. Matheson : And very little for the insurance companies. The Chairman : As far as I can understand, there was not a penny of insurance on her. I know 1 attempted to insure her cargo from Kaiparato Dunedin, and no Company would take the risk. I do not think the insurance companies had any interest in her, and it seems a most extraordinary application on the part of the Government. Mr. Burt : They might just as well ask every person who takes out a warrent against anyone to do the same thiiig. i Mr. Matheson. : I think with a strong case the Government should not have shown any hesitation. Did the carpenter's report substantiate your observations ? Captain Thompson : Yes. The carpenter's report recommended that the vessel should be docked. He did not know but what the kneel might be split. His report is as follows : — At the request of Captain Hastings I have made an inspection of the barque Clara Hargrave as she now lies afloat at the wharf in Dunediu Bay, and certify to the following :— That the upper rudderband on the stern-post is broken ; that the oakum is sticking out of the seams in the wales under the starboard mizen chains ; that one of the chain-plates of the starboard main rigging is gone ; that hold beams are more or less decayed, and the fastenings of same slack ; that the hold frame and planking of the vessel, as far as j could be seen, is gone so much through natural decay that the fastenings have not a proper hold. The decks are very much worn and soft round the fastenings. The vessel is well equipped aloft, but deficient in ground tackling, the chain cables being much worn, and only one bower auchor. I inn informed that the barque, on her voyage to this port, was on shore at Kaipara and sustained much damage. I therefore recommend that the vessel be docked for further survey. Richard Mackay, Shipbuilder. Mr. Matheson : That is very strong. The Chairman : Are you satisfied there was no fault on the part of the authorities at this port ; but lam surprised the Goverment did nottakemeasures to stop the vessel. Mr. Mathew : Is it the duty of the Board to make a remonstrance 1 Captain Thompson : Until now the Government have always supported me. My duties cease with the communication with the Collector of the Costoms. Previously, when vessels have been detained,, I have given my evidence before the Magistrate's Court on the inquiry, along with others, and against it other evidence has been brought, and the Government have been saddled with all the expenses. Mr. Burt : When the expense falls upon the Government it falls upon the people. The people have enacted measures for the safety of travelling and for the protection of sailors, and as the expense of enforcing them must fall upon someone, it should fall upon the Government. Mr. Matheson : The Government do not always think that. The Chairman : We might as a public body remonstrate with the Government for allowing the vessel to go to sea, seeing that the vessel was condemned by competent authority. Mr. Matheson : Yes, I think that ; and send a copy of Captain Thompson's report and the carpenter's report to the head of the Marine Department, and draw attention to the circumstances. Captain Thompson : They have my report. Mr. Burt : It just come 3to this : If anyone feels himself aggrieved about a vessel going to sea, no matter how bad the case may be, he must lodge £100 before any action will be taken, and the result will be that no case will be prosecuted. Sailors ship without knowing the vessel they are going to ; but I suppose they are expected to swim ashore somehow. Mr. Matheson ; Who is our Pliinsoll here ? Mr. Guthrie : Captain Russell. Mr. Matheson : But he does it for £ s. d. Mr. Matheson : He only reports to insurance companies as to risks. j The following minute on the question was unanimously agreed to : — tk The Chief Harbormaster having at the request of the Harbor Board reported on the condition of the Clara Hargravs, it was resolved that the Government be remonstrated with for allowing the vessel to proceed to sea."