THE LOST DREDGE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1485, 6 July 1912, Page 15

THE LOST DREDGE.

MANCHESTER INQUIRY. ' REGARDED AS SEAWORTHY. "' OTHER RUMOURS. "ONE COULD WRITE A BOOK.' 1 . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christohurch, July 5. An-inquiry under Seotioii 235 of the Shipping and Seamen's Act into tho disappearance of tho dredge Manchester opened to-day before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M. Tho nautical assessors were Captain G. F. Post and Captain J. Scoullar. Mr. A. Elliott appeared to conduct the inquiry on behUf of tha Marino Department, Mr.' Geo;,-g9 Harper appeared on behaif of "the I 'itelCon Harbour Board, and Mr. H« J/ Jeswick represented tho Sydney Trust. Mr. ElUxSJfin "opening tho case, stated that the Manchester had been bought as a second-hand snip by tne Lyttelton Harbour BoaTd, sho having dono work in Manchester Canal. She arrived in New Zealand early in March, 1901. Her registry was transferred to the Port of Sydney on March 15, 191'J, as sho had been bought by tho Harbour Trust of Sydnoy from the Lytteltou Harbour Board for .£9BOO. The vessel was not insured in any New Zealand offices, but insurance had "been effected at Homo. The Manchester left LytteKon on April •!, arrived at Wellington April 5, and-left for Sydney m?xc day. Sho was reported to have been sighted by the Kaitongata two days ail or she left Wellington, but since then nothing has been heard of her. The circumstances to be inquired into would be:-: Tho condition of tho vessel when she left, i.e., whether she was seaworthy, and had a proper crew, nnd was in every respect properly equipped. Cyrus Williams, secretary of ■ tho Lyttelton Harbour Board, stated that Mr. Christie, engineer of tho Sydney Harbour Trust, took delivery on .February 29 last. Percy M. Christie stated that Captain Stuart, of the had.been conferred with on ninny points, and witness did all he thought necessary. False bottoms had ben put in tho Manchester, and the buckets nnd links wore.all removed, but the ladder was loft in position. That was no detriment to tho vessel's seaworthiness. The spore gear • weighed about' 52 tons. On deck there was 33 tons. She Was-passed at Lyttelton, and wont to sea with that on deck. The vessel was insured for JBII.OOO, the insurances baving been effected at Home. Ho could not get 'tho dreclgo covered in Christchurch. Tho premium amounted to about •£sso'for the run across.

Mr, Bailey: She was insured for more than you paid for it? Witness: But there was also the cost of fitting her for sen, £1588. To Mr. Beswick: These expenses for fitting did not cover the crow's wages, so there,;-would be further expenses to add on. ,Th crew numbered '24, and there was also a stewardess. He had two deckhands more than required, and also a. steward. The engineer in charge had been with witness at Cape Town.in fitting up the Triton, and had also made the trip on that vessel.'

.Mr., Beswick: Would yon have had any hesitation in making the trip?—None'.'at' all, , What free-board had she?— With"' a full load, as when she went away, the .draught forward was, 9ft. lOin, and, aft lift.lin. Thorax was one foot seven inches showing between 'thewateran'dhorplimsoll 'mark.' Witness said that everything was doite that could possibly bo done to get he»' safely across to Sydney. She was dry dooked. Dredges wero not as 6afe to travel in as cargo steamers. The probabilities were. that • the Manchester met an exceptional storm. There was exceptional weather at that time. The trust commissioners instituted :a search for the missing vessel. The steamer Eden had .been chartered, and the warships Pioneer and-rEhcotinter- had ..also; looked for the Manchester. The, cost of chartering" the Eden had been over £1500. ToJilr. Bailey: A letter had been picked ■up on the Bulli beach (near Sydney), purporting to come from the Manchester. To the assessors: Witness conld not express an opinion as to whether it would have.been bettcj to have a moro experienced man in command of the Manchester. ...

Was Captain Stuart given any instructions to"hurry?—No, he was not. Witness said"'thM "the Sydney Harbour Trust Commissioners had decided to assist any of the relatives of ,the crew who were in poor circumstances, Captain Harciel (Superintendent 'ofMercantile Marine) stated that he issued articles, for 'the dredge to Captain Stuart on April 2. The vessel was overmanned. To the, assessors: He could not conceive, that tho\vessol was unseaworthy. .. . Phillip James Carman (Surveyor, of Ships and Inspector of Maohinery) stated that he inspected the hull and the whole of the maohinery of the Manchester, and gave a Certificate. The vessel was docked, and witness made an exhaustive survey externally and internally.' To the assessors: He was; thoroughly fatisfied. that ■ the..vessel was seaworthy. He had no idea as to what, could havo 'hannencd.

Wallace Hagor Wilcox (Surveyor of.! Ship 3 and Superintendent of Marine) stated that he inspected the equipment of the Manchester generally, and surveyed the deok' and fastenings of the gear on deck. All distress signals wore in accordance with the regulations. The boats on the port side had accommodation for 28 porsons, and those on the starboard side for 32 porsons—in all, for more than twice the number.of persons.on board. Mr. Elliott: In ■'-■your opinion, was the boat quite seaworthy. Witness: Yes; and everything was dono to make hor;.'ro. . "

Claude Ferrier (acting-Lloyd's surveyor) Baid that he inspected .the vessel whilst afloat and in dry dook. He supervised tho work while she was'being prepared for tho .voyage to Sydney. Everything 1 was done that could possibly be done' to make her seaworthy. ..... , To tho 'assessors;. Captain Stuart would not have cone if witness had been 'Conducting affairs.-at-the final change. Mr. Elliott: Why was that?.- . . Witness; A -man that'' was drinking would not be put in-command of any vessel. ■ •'/ M. J.-/Millar (shiDwright)' gave particulars of the work dono' before the dredgn left _ for ' Sydney. - . > ■••••• A. Hutchinson (master mariner) stated that he supplied Coal to the dredro, but had not-seen to --stowing■■ it. Ho considered tho vessel seaworthy. Evidence as to seaworthiness was also given hv W.'.T. Toomoy, John Hill, and S. G. StringCr., - . , • G. S. Yorris stated'that ho had been an engineer oh the Manchester, and'dismantled her. She was a very wet boat. To Captain Post: We pealed the hoppers, making thorn watertight, heforo sailing for Sydney. Tt would not havo taken a very henry 1 ., sea to have washed some of th*> lifebofi- overboard. ,Chos. Hatfield (recent, ? third officer "of the Kaitangata) stateditthat: that vessel passed the Mnuchcste¥/)tf 'Farewell Spit at 8 a.m.'on Anril 7.';J.l'here was a fresh nor -westerly breeze, 'with heavy swell from the same direction. It would be n, head wind for tho dredge. Tho wind di»d .away towards evening. N»xt day (Monday).was calm. On Tuesday tho wind ?et in from tho south-west, and then veered to north-west, and kcot blowIn? hn'd for two da vs. The dredm was Uoing from four to five knots hourly. To Mr. Beswick: He judged the dredge would havo a bad time: The weather was abnormal in the Taiwan f^a. (i. F. Whi'tefide (clerV to Messrs. Berwick and Harris, at Lvtfelton) stated that he'was instructed bv Mr. Christie, of the Svdnoy Harbour Trust, to jret Captain Stuart to cancel .his engagement, "as he would not pull liin"fe!f together." The pne?2emcnt was cancelled, nnd Captain Stuart was allowed to explain it a? he • wished. Curtain Stuart wiahod to keen on the dred»e. Mr. E'lintt: Did you hear a. rumour that Cantain Stuart mimo'eh- cot on tho F.pr-r 5.0. that ho would bo relieved of his position? Witness; Cmp could write a boot on the rumour* a br>"t the Jlonobwter. That or» is easilv pxolained. This concluded the evidence, nnd the Court announced t-hat its decision would bo given in dus course.