LIVES LOST ON THE DUCO.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 694, 20 December 1909, Page 7

LIVES LOST ON THE DUCO.

STATE.iOF,ffIHE»YESSEIi.j\ t i APPEALS TO GOVERNMENT TO TAKE' ACTION. : :.The \discoy-ery;,bf: wreckage:'belonging fib tfie Duco was referred to by Mr. 'Poole (Auckland West) in' the Houso on Saturday. People, he said, wero now asking what sort : of punishment .was going to bo meted out to those; whp ■ inspired'the 'doparture-of' tho vessel in the state ■in .'which , she, left' 'port. .:- The.. greatest, care -should'bo. taken m administering the law as regards if 'thousands', of; pounds !wore. : 'speht";in :.bringing : :.persons ; -to 'book. who, evajded the law,-it was , desirable that. snch measnrei-should be: taken to , prevent-the requrr , ■ rence'of disasters!. ; : V . Mr. : H'Laren - (Wellmgton East) .. asked hat; actioil ■ the Government ' wis going | to' take ; in regard to. the;loss of. the Duco. -This was a most; senous icase,, since': the , vessel, hdd'fbeoij | overloaded and the mon 'swent to their dcatlij , The Hon. J, i.A. Millar'; said that notice of ! appeal had been given, and thorofore ho did not wish to discuss' a matter that'wai before'tho Court now. ' As soon as tho appeal was settled i tho Government would go into tho wholo matter,'and; if'nothing icame v of tho appeal the I Government'would tako action. . .

_ The finding of tho Court of Inquiry, consisting of, Br; M'Arthur, S.M.,- and • wo ' 'assessors,' was that, the Duco, when she left the port of Wellington,i;'was '.laden 1 -in; such a way.. as to render her unieaworthy..: It was' intimated that the Wellington Harbour Femes Company, the owners of -the Duco, had a right,:,toclaim: a' rehearing, so .'as; : t6 r bring.;expert' evidence as to .what.cargo,tho Duco could really carry .with; safety; ~ Suph •'rehearing '" would.; take place before.a judge of the Supremo Court. MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD. • An. impressive memorial service, i as; a last mark : of respect to - the.'memory, of the men '.who' were . called; away at the post of duty by: : ' the- foundering! of; the s.s. Duco, was, held at ; the Missions |to ( Seamen . Church . when 'arlargo' congregation was. present.. The church.'.'was • draped in black,' relieved, with i-white,? flowers and ribbon," .and a.beautiful anchor, made of .white flowers, was-suspended from the pulpit.' .Mr.'James .Moore, the missioner, preached from Hebrews, ii-16: "Which, hope- we : have, as anr"anchor'. of the soul, .both .eiire "and steadfast; .'and whioh entereth 'into that .within." the : veil." ..'During the 'course of 1 Kis ,'Mrmon,'.:the'vpreacheit drew attention'.:to tho fact that tho year 1809 had been- a mostmemorable one'-ih ; the history'of- the ..British mercantile marine for shipwrecks. In following: 'by., the teit, with- referenco'to-. those who mourn and look'' seaward. foi- .their' dear ones, -ho endeavouredto impress the. fact -that hope was tho anchor of:the soui; 'and however heavy the hand hail been laid ou them.'Clod in his mercy had called them home to .'their eternal rest, lie added that writers; : had .left,-much .undone about tho sea. Accidents ashore had been more burnerons thai 'at:sett,'.and;, although those lost at 6ea ,'have no !tonibstone':to.. mark' their .ratingplace,. friends least' could keep. their memory green ' "cfrecting* a tablet 1 in the,.- Mission. Church. Mr. Moore concluded with a very earnest:appeal to thocongregation to show; this mark of respect 1 in : ; memory. of: the crew, who lost their lives in the Duco. ' Tho lessons were lead by Mr. Mooro and Mr. J.'-S; .'Cnmmings, .and; the ".Crossing ;VthO Bar" '.was' '■ rondered: by. Miss-- Castle. , Special ,hynins ; were, sung,, and ' Mr. Gardiner, the organist, played-the "Dead March in Saul."