THE DOCK CASES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13315, 18 June 1907, Page 5

THE DOCK CASES.

THE OPENING- CLAIM.. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Junot 17. ■ The action for JBIS.CCO damages brought ;i(i-;iillsi tlio Auckland Harbour Boaid bj ■the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co., owners of it-lie ffe'ainer Mamari, commenced - to-day before: Mr Justice Denniston and a special jurv. - ~ ' , • Tlia claim arose out) of tfihs accident m the Calliope Graving Dock on November 27tli, when the Mamari wliile being drydocked suddenly plunged down and . forward, the bedblocks upon which the ship, should have rested having collapsed. Mr H. Gully, Wellington, in opening the case for plaintiff*, said that t-lie. Harbour Board's officials did not- seem to ihave any definite idea n-s to th?ir duty. No information was given to the, ship's captain as to th A special condition of -t-he> dock at the --time, and no information was requested from the cantain as to the sliap"! and tonnage of the Mamari. He suggested that the blocks were: inh-rent-ly weak in design; and that the accident was due to the Board's neglect to take proper precautions; for dor-Vino- «iir-h heavy vessels n-? the Mamari. Th<* blocks wor° constructed by t'h" foreman of works. The engineer took no part in the matter 'except to giv-"> bvkf instruction'--Evidence iva* then mlWl. Thn bearing is -expected to la?<t- -a week.