CHIPPING CASE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14885, 27 January 1914, Page 3

CHIPPING CASE.

CASTINGS FOR THE TAINTI. CLAIM FOR £IS3 8s Bd. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, beforo Mr H. W. Bishop, 5.M.,, an interesting shipping case was heard, in which G. ajid S. Sinclair (Mr Beswick), iron-founders, Lyttelton. claimed from A. W. Ogle, Waitara, and M. Jensen (Mr Weston), owner «snd master respectively of the coastal steamer Taiuui, the yim ot £18-3 8s Sd. The item in the statement oi claim which was taken exception to was that of 24301b of bra.«s castings at Is nd per lb. Tho evidence of Captain Jensen, and of other witnesses for the defence, was taken at New Plymouth, and in this it was contended that the castings should havo been made of old metal supplied to the plaintiffs by the defendants, whereas the firm for which plaintiffs were agents, used mostly new metal, and allowed a certain amount for the old material. Mr Beswick said the claim was in connexion with some foundry ivork done in Lyttelton by the plaintiffs for the ship Tainui. Tho sum of £123 ls 2d, together with costs on that amount, had been paid into Court. It was known when the ship came into Lyttelton tliat sho would require to have some work done io her. and plaintiff waited upon Captain Jensen, and secured a contract for tho job. Among other work, some brass shoes were required to bo placed on the bottom of tho steamer. These were apparently required to protect the vessel in shallow waters; it was only a small coastal steamer, and had to negotiate small nvers, very often grating upon shingle and sand. The captain had brought down to Christchurch a quantity of old metal, which it was contemplated might be used for the purpose of making the chocs. 'Ihese scraps consisted of old propellers, and a lot of other odds and * n x-\ c An arran fiement was mado by which Sinclair was entrusted with the whole of the work to be done. It was explained that Sinclair was not a brassfounder, and it was agreed that Thomas Uanks and Sons, brass-founders, should be engaged to do a portion of the work Counsel continued that tho castings were of an unusual size, and the larger tho casting the greater risk of breakages in cooling. The whole question X*%S at TV roaSonablo P''*«> to pay lor the work dono. J •Donnld Sinclair, member of tho firm Sinclair Bros., iron-founders, I™ teltmi, corroborated counsel's state- „ To w r ™ eston :Ho ** vas ncting as an b? n , n i fo ;, Thon,a * Panks. Thoy charged liini Is 4d a pound, and ho charged an extra penny, in consideration for his services. He had told Danks that he would have to make his own arrangements with Captain Jensen as to the old metal. Mr Weston: You didn't tell tho Captain, then, that you would do all tho work yourself?— No. John Danks, a member of the firm of Thomas Danks and Son. said the work was done as "a hurried job," as the ship would only be on the slip for a short period. The old, metal could not possibly be used in casting the shoes. In course of conversation with Captain Jensen, he said his firm were buyers in quantities of old metal, and would bo pleased to take all he had. The prices charged were reasonable. Thomas Danks, a member of the samo firm as the previous witness, said the job was a most unusual one. The usual weight of a casting was half-a-pound, but the smallest of the eleven castings made weighed 1801b. All ships' work took precedence of other work, and witness had practically closed clown his foundry in other work while thia job was being done. The-usual prico for brass castings was ls 2d upwards. Ho pointed out that in cooling a foot of brass would contract three-sixteenths of an inch. In a six-foot casting, with a contraction of over an inch, good metal had to be used, because there was a big risk of failure. Such a casting cost more per lb in proportion than a small one. Even ls 6d per lb was a reasonable prico for castings of this nature. Witness continued that the old metal to bo used had to be melted down into ingots. If they had had to use the old metal, it would have taken twico as long, and new metal would havo to bo added to strengthen it. They knew the value.of new metal, but old metal begamo poorer in quality every timo it was melted. Copner melted nt 1990 degrees F., zinc at 730 degrees F., and the amalgamation of copper and zinc melted at 1800 F. Thero was n certain percentage of loss in melting down copper, and a larger percentage of loss in melting down zinc; it ranged from 15 per cent. Witness quoted the market prices for old brass, zinc, etc., and claimed that a fair nrice had been given for the old metal." To Mr Weston : It'had never entered Ins mind, or the mind of his brother, that the captain wanted the old metal to be used in theso castings, and it consequently never occurred to them to explain. It was a common practice For captains and officerrs of ships to sell them old metal. Nearly every 6hip Doming into port had transactions of this kind to make. John Midgeiy, foreman in charge at A-noerson's, Ltd., foundry, said tho -■barges for the castings were re.tsonible. There was very great risk in largo castings that tho work would bo i failure, aud would havo to be done jver again. expert witness said that ls >a rx-r lb would be a fair price for such :astings. The case for V\e defence was that :he old metal should have been used in ths castings, and that 9d a lb wtould lave been a fair charge. Judgment was for plaintiffs for the imouiit claimed and costs.