THE TAINUI INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 19, 17 October 1919, Page 7

THE TAINUI INQUIRY

EVIDENCE. AS TO STRENGTH OF BENZINE TIN.. ViTjJ lly Telegraph—Press Association. \ Christchurch, October 16. 1 At the Tainui inquiry Captain Colonna, Lloyds' surveyor, gavo evidence that it was imperative that tho bulkhead should ■ go down,to tho skill of the ellip if it-, were intended to carry benzine. Preeau- 3 lions should include the opening of tho \; hatches at intervals, to allow fumos to ;• escape. His theory of the explosion was t that bilges lind not been kept free o£ 'benzine, and that a spark, probably from v the furnaces, ignited tho, benzine. Tho 1 best protection was to carry oil in oiltight tins. , 'To 11 r. Young: If be were eaptat of a wooden vessel ho would not allow , leaky cases near tlio ship. James Hughes, <i waterside worker, eaid ! he had had eleven years' experience. Ho • never iiad handled a worse cargo than the —.' Tuinui's. Only rope slings were used ; in loading the cargo. Some of the tins nor Jcaking in the trucks ivcro broken and the oil ran out ifl the hold or oil the deck. Benzine in cases was best handled on trays. Though an order to j put only sound cases into tho hold was ; given, .those who <gave it. allowed leaky cases to go down. . ' ' P. W. Brictain, a waterside worker, giving evidence regarding "'the loading of the benzine cargo, said, that somo of the cases in the slings, foroko as tliey ;■ were beiiu? hoisted up. Had tray slings ; been used no breakage would have oc- , curred. " L. C. Galbraitli, oil safes manager for Gollin and Compauy, said lie d:d not > think tho evidence tendered _ regarding tho deterioration of the (itiaHty of tlio tins was correct. Statistics showed that i the leakage was no greater now than . in the pre-war days. Some Cal.fornian ; tins were liihlcr, but tho cases were of . thicker -wood. , , Constable Hessell deposed that the lifebelts found wore in good order; also tho life-boat, oxcent that the p'.ug was missing and the lifeline round tile boat broken on one side. , \ Sergeant Hodgson, who inspected tlio Tainui on September 17, said that most of the tins near the ploughs had retained their original shiipe. Tho inquiry was adjourned till to- , morrow..