REFUSING DUTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 971, 18 August 1903, Page 2

REFUSING DUTY.

ALLEGED UNSEAWORTHINESS OF STEAMER.

JPer Press Association^ Timaru, last night. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day Macfarlane and Barnlett, second and third engineers of the s.s. Isleworth, were prosecuted for refusing to proceed to sea in a vessel. When the steamer was leaving Lyttelton the firemen lodged a complaint with the Custome officer that the ship was unseaworthy. Notice was sent to Timaru and Mr Williamson, Government marine surveyor, made a survey of the ballast tanks which were complained of as leaking and as too weak to support the ship if she struck a reef and holed the bottom. Under the tanks the surveyor found two small leaks, and ordered them to be patched. The tank was tested by filling, and there were no further leaks. The firemen were dissatisfied, as the No. 3 tank was only glanced at, as it is cemented over, and the second and third engineers were also dissatisfied, and a few hours before the steamer was to leave for Sydney in ballast they gave notice that they would not go in her until a further survey, especially of No. 3 taDk, had been made. The hearing occupied several hours, and the Magistrate concluded that the defendant had not made out the existence of any unseawortbiness. The chief engineer’s and Government surveyor’s evidenco was strongly adverse to them. The defendants were convicted and ordered to forfeit two days’ pay, and to pay the costs of the prosecution and solicitor’s fee £2 2s. Captain Sherbourne deolined to receive the two men back, and paid them off.