RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 2995, 24 September 1872, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

Tins Day. (Before A. C. Strode, Esq., R.M.) Civil Cases. Coventry v, Hatfield.—This case was resumed from yesterday. Mr Barton and Mr Haggitt for the plaintiff; Mr Jas. Smith for the defendant. Mr Barton applied that Mr J. A. Walcott, agent for Bright Bro«. and Co. and for the ship, should produce the charter party. Mr .las. Smith objected. His Worship thought the point in dispute should be deferred, and the case proceeded with.— For the defence, Captain Hatfield said he had been at sea 33 years, and a master 23 years. The Napier was a North American built ship, and partly carried railway plant Ships of the Napier class are very suitable for carrying railway plant. The ship is loss than four years old. Was present during the stowage of the ca’-go, and superintended the same. The clxief officer received the cargo. Considered the cargo properly stowed, and the dead weight properly distributed. Considered Captain Thomson’s estimate of the stowage incorrect. In crossexamination, several extracts from the ship’s log were read, showing that on the 24th June and following days the vessel encountered heavy gales of wind, accompanied by thunder storms ; that sails were blown away, and she was struck several times heavily by seas, which, carded away % portion of her bulwarks, and broke two planks on her port quarter, through which the water rushed. With some difficulty this leak was stopped. At one time, on sounding the well, 23 inches of water were found in the vessel. (Left sitting.)