THE LOSS OF THE DUCO.
RESULT-OF THE INQUIRY. DECLARED TO BD UNSEAWORTHT. Tho Magisterial Court of Inquiry, which has heard the eudence as to the loss of tho steam trawler Ducoj gave its decision yesterday, when Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., delivered n very brie! judgment in wliich he said his assessors (Captain W. J. Gray and Mr. James M'Lean) fully concurred. The Court declared the Dnco to have been iinseaworthy when she left for tho Chathams on December 7"last. It considered that she was lost on tho night of the 7th, foundering at sea. In answer to tho question whether the vessel was seaworthy when she left the port of Wellington, tho magistrate said:— "I am of opinion that the Duco when leaving the port of Wellington, was not in a condition to encounter such perih of tho sea as eho might be fairly expected to encounter in going to the Chatham Islands. I consider that, laden as she was, a deck cargo of ten tons of coal, not lash'ed, a 400-gallon tank full of wator, some timber, and some conciete blocks, was sufficient to render a ship of the Duco 'class unfit to encounter the perils referred to, and hence, ordinarily speaking, ' 'unseaworthy .'" The evidenco, the Conrt adds, shows that on the evening of her, departure, at 9 p.m., a strong southerly gale set in, with a maximum of force 'about midnight. Tho Court is of opinion that sho foundered at sea, and, m all probability, on the night of her departure. Tho Wellington Harbour Ferries Company were ordered to pay to the Minister of Marine the sum of jBl4 ss. as expenses of the lnveshMr. Dalziell, representing the Ferries Company, said he understood there was no right of appeal. Mr. Young pointed out there was a right to claim a rehearing. Mr. Dalziell added that the company was at a disadvantage in not having expert evidence as to what the Duco could actually carry with'safety. It is understood that tho company will ask for a rehearing on that ground. The inquiry will in that case be before a Judge of the Supreme Court. '
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Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 674, 26 November 1909, Page 7
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354THE LOSS OF THE DUCO. Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 674, 26 November 1909, Page 7
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