LYTTELTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 136, 19 October 1868, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

This Dav. (Before Dr Donald, R.M.j Breach of Durr undkh Merchant Shipping _.cr. — John McLean, seaman on board the barque Cantero, was charged on tbe informatiou of Captain Gibson, Harbour Master, with a wilful breach or neglect of duty in not keeping a proper anchor watch. Captain Gibson prosecuted. Captain A. Black stated : I am master of the British barque Cantero. On arriving in harbour I told the mate to call all hands aft an I give them ord. rs for the anchor watch, and I told the men if the light went out they w -uid be fined I also gave orders that if it came on to blow, or the vessel dragged, I was to be called immediately. I was on board ou the night of the 13th ; the ship was then anchored off Officer's point, where the Pilot had left her ; the mate and I turned in at midnight. I was not called during the night, but was at daylight, and found tie vessel within a hundred feet of the rock* in a bight opposite Camp Bay, and nearly three miles from where she had been anchored ; she was in such a position that I did not think she would begot off the rocks. A light wind sprang up off the land and we got her clear. The vessel was riding with one anchor down; its weight is about 15 cwt ; we had 45 fathoms chain out ; the accused is a seaman on b.ard the vessel. By Prisoner : I was quite sober ; there was ho wind when I came on board. By Court : When we hove the anchor up it was foul, this would account for the dragging. Richard li. Morrison, chiefofficer, gave evidence as to setting the anchor ! watches. On the night in question, the first watch was the sailmaker's ; the second and third I kept, because the watch was away in the boat ; the time I set the watch was 8 p.m., and each man has an hour and a half. Desborough took up the watch after me; then Johnson ; and afterwards the accused ; his watch would commence at twenty minutes past one. I wms called at 4 by the cook ; the ship was then close under the rocks ; tha distance she h«d drMgged was about one-mile-and-a-half ; the duty of the anchor watch is never to leave hi*, post until relieved ; nothing woul-l I warrant his leaving ; the wind when I left the deck was blowing from all parts of the compses. I could see the lights of the town, j I also saw the ships' lights when I turned in. 1 he anchor was foul when we got it up ; this ! would be occasioned by the ship going round. } By the accused : ihe anchor was well laid. | By the Court : The ship was iv great peril ; : the day was breaking ; it was half an-hour ; after I called before any of you would turn ! out. James Johnson, seaman on board, gave evidence, as to the accused relieving turn of tii-i watch ; there was no wind then, and the tights in the town could be seen ; at 4 o'clock he w.ts called by the mate; the vessel was then iv a bight about a cable's length from the rocks. Erick Oldstrum said*. Ihe accused called me ; I got up in about 9 minutes after I was called ; the accused was sitting on his bunk when he gave me my orders ; when I came on dtck, I could not see the lights. 1 could see the rocks. I thought all knew the vessel was dragging ; she did not drag in my watch. I know, because I kept my eye on a large rock. 1 called the cook at 4 o'clock. By accused : You only called me once ; you gave me my orders whilst I was in my bunk. Archibald Smith : 1 am quarter-master on board the ship Light Brigade. I come on deck every night at 7 o'clock, and remain until 6 next morning. During the night in question it blew in light squalls. At 2.30 a heavy squall came on and I went forward. I saw the barque was altering her position and was dragging her anchor. She was soon out of sight; she was anchored about 200 yards from our ship; her light was burning at daylight; she was quite out of sight; I looked for her through the glass, but could not find her. By the Court : The anchor watch must stop on dtck until relieved. Our ship had its light burning, and the watch on the barque could have se=n it. Accused had nothing to say to the charge. The Court said it was very evident the accused bad imperilled the ship and the lives of all rm board by his neglect. By the Merchant shipping Act he could be fined £100, or he sentenced to 6 montha' imprisonment; his mode of crot-s-examination was not calculated to produce a favourable impression on the Court. Captain Gibson said he would not press for the full | enalty; he Imd brought the case forward to show sailors what they were liable for. The accused was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment, with hard labour.