SCHOONER ARRESTED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1507, 11 December 1918, Page 5

SCHOONER ARRESTED.

AN. UNUSUAL PROCEEDING. The unusual occurrence of formally arresting a schooner, the Oakland, took place at Lyttelton yesterday, when Mr A. 11. Holmes, acting as marshal- of the Colonial Court of Vice-Admiralty, formally attached the following warrant to the mast: —VWarrant in the Supreme Court of New Zealand (being a Colonial Court of Admiralty, Canterbury district) between Wright, Stevenson and Co., Ltd., Lyttelton, and W. H. Simms and Sons, Ltd., both being coinpanics duly incorporated and carrying on business in the city of Ghvistehureh and elsewhere in the Dominion of New Zealand, plaintiffs against the owners and persons interested in the schooner Oakland, now lying in the hsrbotjr of Lyttelton, New Zealand, defendants. George V., by grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the seas, King Defender of the Faith. To the Marshal of our ViceAdmiralty Court of Christc hurch. We hereby command you to arrest the schooner Oakland, and keep the same under safe arrest until you receive further orders from us. Given at Christchurch in our said court, under the seal thereof, this 10th day of December, 191 S. Warrant taken out by Geo. Harper, of Christehurch, solicitor for plaintiffs.—-(Signed) A. 11. Holmes, Registrar.'' The Oakland arrived in Lyttelton on September 6, from San Fraiedseo. During the voyage she sprang a leak, and from then until she was docked at Lyttelton there were some feet of water in her hold which necessitated her being pumped out. frequently, She is a wooden three-masted schooner oi' 418 tons gross register, and w;is built by \V. F. Stone and Co., at San Francisco, in IfiUl The vessel, which has been lending here for some time, was fixed to sail on Saturday for Apia, in ballast. It is alleged thai on the voyage out the water which leaked into the vessel rusted many tins of petrel consigned to (he plaintiffs d spoilt the contents. They are therefore suing the owners of the vessel, who live in Oregon, United States, for the sum of £46(tn damages. This claim will he heard in the Supreme Court buildings, Christchuivh, Inn (lie procedure of the Vice-Admiraltv Court will be observed. Captain K. Wendt, in charge of the vessel, is endeavouring to communicate with the owners to give a bond of security. II! this is forthcoming, the vessel will be allowed to proceed.