CALLIOPE DOCK ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2109, 18 June 1907, Page 1

CALLIOPE DOCK ACCIDENT.

CLAIMS AGAINST AUCKLAND HARBOR BOARD.

THE HEARING COMMENCED

Presp Association. AUCKLAND, yostorday

An action for £15,000 damages brought against the Auckland Harbor Board by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, ownors of the steamer Mamari, commenced before Mr. Justice Donniston and a special jur" today. Tho claim arises out of the ac-cident-in; Calliope Dock on November 27th, wheir tho Mamari, while .being dry-docked,'."suddenly plunged down and forward,'the blocks upon which tile ship should liavo rested having collapsed." Mr. H. Gully, Wellington,: in opening tlie case for plaintiffs, said the Harbor : Board’s officials did. not seem to: have any definite idea as. to tlieir duty. No information was given to tho 'ship’s captain as to the special condition of tho dock ’at the time, and no information was requested from the captain as.-to the shape and tonnage of the Mamari.. He suggested (that the blocks were-inhe-rently weak-in design, and that the accident was due to the Board’s neglect to take proper precautions for docking such a heavy vessel •" as the Mamari, "The blocks were constructed by tho foreman of works,, whose instructions were merely to put tlie thing up twenty inches. The Board’s engineer! took no part in the matter oxcopt to givo the brief instruction quoted. ‘ Evidence is now being callod. The hiring is expected to last a week. ’ I . The Shaw, Savill Company claim £15.000. and other claims against tho Harbor Board total with this £21,288. A strong bar is engaged, including Messrs. Gully and Earl, of Wellington, for tlie plaintiff company, Messrs Skerrett, K.C... T. Cotter, and R. MeVeagli, for the Harbor Board. Expert evidence from Australia will be called.