THE NEW DREDGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 399, 25 April 1902, Page 3

THE NEW DREDGE.

THE RECENT ACCIDENT,

The recent accident to tho new dredge John Townloy formed the subject of a discussion at tho Harbor Board meeting yesterday. Tho Chairman said that he had asked the drodgemaster to make a memo, of each day’s work, and the note in regard to tho accident was as follows . “ Started work at 7 a.m. Took out one load from Gisborne wharf. In returning from tho bay towards the breakwater, and whilst tho two forward doors were down tho vessol grazed over a sunken rock I damaging one of the hinges of the door and wrenching off the other one. 1 nad been in tho habit of going over the same ground over sinco I have been in charge of the vessel, which proves that this is a pinnacle rock uncharted. The position of the vessel when she struck was in a line between tho Anglian buoy and the leading beacons. Mr A. Davys went down in tho diving suit, and ascertained the damage, after which I hauled the dredge over on the hard to effect repairs. Finished work at 7 p.m. Seven men on board.” Mr Matthewson said that when boats' struck the rocks were always uncharted ones. The doors of the dredge should

not have been down. The Chairman said that it was necessary to have the doors down to clean the sticky spoil off. Only two doors could lie let down at a time, and in that .respect the ordinary duties were being carried out. Mr Sievwright: I sincerely hope that there is no uncharted rock there. Mr Matthewson said that the tide would make a considerable difference. Mr Sievwright said that they ought

to get a fuller report. The Chairman said that he had asked for a fuller report. Mr Whinray also took the view that if 'there was an uncharted rock about, some provision should be made for the buoying of it. Mr Macfar.ane : Is there a rock, or was the water too shallow ? Mr Matthewson said that there .were a lot of rocks about. Mr Macfarlane said that the report said that the rock was between the Anglian buoy, and the breakwater—a long way outj Mr Cooper•: If there is a rock there,

it ought to be found. Mr Sievwright said that they had better wait for a further report from the dredgemaster. The Chairman said that steps had at once been taken to effect repairs, and they had hoped to have had the work promptly done, but there had been considerable difficulty, owing to there being no hard place on which the dredge could be placed while the repairs were being effected. .. In reply to the Chairman the Engineer said that he expected to have the repairs effected next day, but it would depend upon what kind of tides .they had. The Chairman said that everything had been done that could be done to get the repairs promptly effected. Mr .Whinray suggested that a course should be set for the dredge so that no risk in that respect would be taken in the future. If there was a pinnacle rock in a dangerous place it should be marked, and if the boat had been discharging in shallow water care should be taken that no risk of the kind was run in the future.

In reply to a question, the Chairman said that with the doors down the dredge would have been drawing about twelve feet of water at the time of the accident.

Captain Tucker said that the fact that there was no insurance on the vessel should make them extra careful in the matter, or they might find themselves minus their £BOOO worth. They should find out where the dredge really was at the time, and insist that .very great care should be taken. The Chairman said that in any case they would have to take a risk of 50 per cent. Mr Sievwright said that.the matter should lie referred to the Public Works Committee.

The Chairman said that lie intended that there should be a committee meeting of the Board after the conclusion of the ordinary meeting. The question of Captain Benny’s account was then gone into. There was no exception taken to the account, but the members considered that Andersons should pay the account, the work done being on behalf of the contractors in testing the steering capabilities of the dredge. Captain Tucker again pointed out the fact that Captain Benny had been employed by Andersons, the part that the Board had taken in the matter being to state they would be satisfied at a report from Captain Benny—they had carefully avoided employing him. By acknowledging that they had done so would be to play into the hands of the Andersons, and admit that they had taken the dredge over, the thing that they had guarded against until it could be shown that the defect as to steering could be remedied. At the request of Mr Macfarlane the minute in reference to the matter was read. „ The Engineer said that Mr Turpin had been introduced to Captain Benny —and the former engaged him to do the work.- . Captain Tucker: That was as intended by the Board, which only went the length of expressing satisfaction with Captain Benny* ' ~ Mr Whinray: I understood that the Chairman had engaged Captain Benny 5 The Chairman said that lie had gone and found Captain Benny, and introduced him to Mr Turpin (Andersons representative), The Secretary : It was guaranteed that the Board would see him paid. Captain Tucker said 'it was not the few pounds that he was complaining about, but directly they paid Captain Benny Andersons would- say— 1 Ins is your ' servant whom you have put in Charge.”- Had he applied to AnderThe Secretary : Yes, and they will n °£aptain Un T«cker said that Captain Benny should write to- the Board to that' effect. They might perhaps put it in a way that Andersons having refused to pay the Board wpuld pay it because they guaranteed it would he Matthewson : We have- not a leg to stand on in any action against the Andersons, and may as well bive in. Captain Tucker : No one proposed to bring a.f action. Why should we pay Andersons’ servants ? Mr Matthewson : Ye took o\er the boat. . t „ Captain Tucker : If we are going to assume that, and give the position away, well and good. ~ Mr Matthewson: We did it all the

Magfarlanc : The resolution is good enough,' if it’lias been adhered

lo 'rhe Secretary : Captain Benny haaded in his report: whoever opened it ~I W (n S ee that it was paid for. In reply to Mr Cooper, the Chairman said that there was still about £565 of Andersons money in hand. Mr Whinray '• Pay it under protest. The Chairman: If you do you will X CooperVl don’t think Andersons T..S" .» .ho ver, aiders it should be paid, let us pay it "'caplin Tucker said hedid noUmAV why they nau l*uw.h guarantors.The Chairman: It was your pwp Pr SSW, Yes. buttedidjot know why, unless possibly, hi ey bad their doubts. The Chairman : It was said that we would see that lie was paid. Captain Tucker : Yes, as guarantors on Andersons refusing to pay, hut no as hiring the captain, i Mr Whinray: I think we can pav_ . without vitiating our position. It was agreed to pay, .the amount on

(( behalf of John Anderson and Co.’ This item having been disposed of, there then came up another matter in which- Anderson and Co. were freely mentioned. The Marine Department applied for £5 for the survey certificate for the John Townley. This gave rise to a long discussion, members considering that Anderson and Co. should have paid this, and expressing surprise that the vessel had been allowed to leave Lyttelton for Gisborne without the fee being paid. It was agreed to write to Anderson and Co. for the Marine certificate, and informing them that it had not yet been received.