THE DORSET EPISODE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 72, 19 December 1918, Page 6

THE DORSET EPISODE

PBAISE FOR THE HAEBOURM ASTER. At the meeting of the Harbour Board last evening, tiie chairman (Mr. G. E. Duiiiell) made complimentary reference to the good work which had been doiie by the harbourmaster (Captain Dawson) in connection with the refloating of the steamer Dorset (from Hope Shoal). Captain Dawson had faithfully stuck to his work, and had done all in his power to aid tlio work of getting the steamer off the bank There would be a report later dealing with the matter, but as there uiijjht bo a Government inquiry into tliu stranding of the vessel the report could not be presented until after that inquiry had been held. A very nice letter hud' been'received from Mr. W. Wallis, representing the Federal, Houlder and Snire Line, which read as follows:-"We desire to place on record our appreciation of the services rendered us by the harbourmaster, Captain Dawsoii, in connection with the refloating of the s.s. Dorset. The whole of the time the steamer was aground Captain Daivsou willingly guvo both ourselves and the master every assistance at all hours of the day and night and we would like to convey our thanks to him." . , The chairman mentioned that in such cases the services of the harbourmaster were given gratuitously. _ , ILr J. A. M'Ewan v isked the chairman to state what was the position regarding pilotage in the case of vessels such as the Dorset. The chairman said that masters had the right to come into the harbour without a pilot at their own risk, but hud no right to come alongside the wharf without one. They could always signal if they wanted a pilot. In this case the master of the steamer had visited the port before, and had come in without a pilot.