TAINUI DISASTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12776, 21 October 1919, Page 8

TAINUI DISASTER.

THE NAUTICAL INQUIRY,

EIGHTH DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Tim nautical inquiry in connection with tho loss of tho coastal steamer Tainui on September 1G was continued this morning at the Christchurch Alagistrate’s Court. The constitution of tho Court of Inquiry is aa follows: President, Mr B. E. M’Carthy, 8.M.; assessors. Captain Felix Black (coastal pilot, of Wellington), and Mr W J Le Cren (Christchurch). Mr Le Creu appears as engineer’s assessor. P- Raymond. K.C., represents the Minister of Marine (under whose authority the nautical inquiry is being conducted). Other representatives are: Mr G. H. Buchanan (New- Zealand Refrigerating Company, owners of - the Tamu]), Mr 0 T. J.. Alpers (Vacuum Vr Sv. olt iD an A’’ Ltd., owners of the oil), Mr a. Weston (Steamship Owners’ Association), Mr E, W. White, of Messrs Duncan, Cotterill and Co. (Morservice Guild and relatives ot \V ilhams and Howards, Mr J. R. Cuningham (widow/ of Captain Cowon). Mr n. h'. OLenry, Wellington (relatives T o"-urend. M’Lean and Fallen), and Union) Loung (Federated Seamen’? SHIP SURVEYOR’S EVIDENCE.. Noii Dickson Hood, surveyor of ships, continued his evidence, interruptod by the live o'clock adjourAjjuuit jesterday afternoon. Information was tendered as to tho strength of various woods, showing from calculations that they varied in strength to as much as one-thud. llie ploughs put into the xamui hold rested on white pine case woou Provided the plough wheels rested on the vertical end of a case, calculations proved that the wood was of ample- strength to hold the ploughs, ohoula, however, the wheel of a plough, which was supposed to actually rest on the case side, shift 13-32nds of an mch the weight would go on the cross board on the ton and the case be injured or possibly broken. For safety’s sake it required the ploughs to maintain their position on the end wood of tne cases. IV it ness quoted from certam mws of mechanics to show what would happen to the cases in varying circumstances as to pressure on difierent points in rolling. There was a possibility of tne plough metal rubbing' together in the hold of the Tainui causing a spark in a roll and ignition or gas • but such a circumstance was htgh.y improbable, especially as tho plough rods were painted. He would dismiss that theory as a cause of tho disaster. Ihe woodwork covering the insulation in the Tainui was in firstclass order after the last survey. Including the wood the average case of benzine weighed 74.4 ib, therefore a sang of ten cases would weigh 7441b lo Mr Young; He did not inspect the bulkhead door, as he did not survey the vessel for the purposes of carrying meat. That was not In his duties, iho owners refrigerating engineer wou._d inspect insulation If, however insulation were likelv to affect the seaworthiness of a vessel it would be witness s duty to attend to it. If instructed by the Department or owners vvi i f ’ C ;OUl 'se. inspect insulation. \> hen ho ro «ul© tho siirvov benzine did not enter his mind. It was a refrigerating engineer who was responsible to ms company for proper insulation, beemg the door and knowing the engineer's responsibility he would naturtulv conclude that the door was airtight and watertight. Ho could see that the insulation was of rerent construction and in good condition. If the plough wheels, which had bevelled edges, were standing straight n cutting action would he created. In a seaway, given a little movement, a I'hee-I would in that case nrobablv split the wood on which it worked. To Mr Buchanan: An airtight compartment could ccrtainlv be put in a wooaen ship, constructed as ho had detailed to the Court. To Mr Raymond. Insulation primanly had to do with cargo and in an annual surrey it was the seaworthiness of a vessel that wan considered. Unless special attention were called to it witness would uot hat-e knowledge a« to the class of cargo carried." Ho knew, ot course, that the Tainui was insulated for lightering purposes. MARINE SUPERINTENDENT’S evidence. Captain H. W. T. Wilcox, assistant superintendent of marine at Lyttelton and surveyor of ships, tendered evidence on lines of that given an the Coroner’s proceedings. It was not witness’s duty to superintend carop going on vessels. Details of the last anixual inspection were subscribed with special attention to the state of the ufeboat and equipment, which were stated to bo in first-class condition. As far as possible a survey would bo sufficient for a year. Witness remembered the fireman lownsend complaining to him on September 12 as to benzine foaling in the bilges. Subsequently witness ordered benzine stowed in the'afterboid **L unloaded until repairs were effected, iho master rang up witness at about 8.30 p.m. and stated that instructions had been carried out. Witness went aboard and inspected tho hold and was satisfied that all benzine fumes had been got rid of. No complaint was then made by anv of tho crew as to tinscaworthmcss of the vessel. Captain Cowan pointed to where there was a hole in the insulation. Witness later ordered it to bo repaired before any more benzine was carried. The work was carried out at Timaru and witness satisfied himself as to that upon the, Tainui’s return on September 15. Tho roaster and mate were cautioned against taking any leaky cases of benzine, but witness was not present during any of the loading and no comolaint reached him as to cases in that condition going on board. HATCHES BATTENED DOWN. Witness visited the ship after the loading was completed on September 15. The time v/as about 5.55 p.m: The watersiders had loft and the hatches were battened down, ready for sea There was nothing to indicate that anv leaky benzine was about. The engineroom was visited and witness was met by Townsend and Fallen. Townsend said: ‘‘She’s all right; you need not look.' Witness, however, satisfied himself. tie had a look round and into the bilges where possible, but saw no signs of benzine and did not smell any fumes. Accordingly ho said to Captain Cowan; “She’s all right; you may go ” The mate or master would bo responsible for the loading. Anything that witness might say as to the can-re •of the fire_ would merely be supposition, but he considered that ignition took place in the vicinity of tho furnaces. To Mr Cuningham: Captain Cowan was not a man to take unreasonable risks. To Mr O’Leary: The complaint made by lownsend on September 12 was unquestionably a serious one. He could not sav whether the holds of the Tainui wore airtight, but as they were insulated he assumed they were. To Mr White: As far as witness was aware it was not the dutv of anv Government official to see that the ‘insulation of a ship was correct. The bolds of tho Tainui were not made to carry benzine. The president: What official was charged with the duty of seeing that the benzine regulations were carried out?_ Witness: The Harbour Board officials, I think. (Proceeding.)