LOSS OF SCOW RANGI

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 35, 25 February 1937, Page 5

LOSS OF SCOW RANGI

PfMi Auocistion.)

Suggestion That Bolts Wcra Badly Corroded

INQUIRY CONTINUED

fBy Tsligrsph—

" AUCKLAND, This Day. Stressing the importance of ascertaining definitely the condition of the iron fastonings on the vessel, Mr N. A,' Foden, Wellington, representing tbe Marino Department at the inquiry into the loss of the scow Eangi, suggested this morning an adjournment pending a further fixamination of tbe vessel. The chairman, Mr McKean, decided to hear further evidence first. Mr Foden said tha.t th# department could 'not contradict the evidence of the witness Horne, who had said that the bolts were badly corroded, as the department 's officers had examined the hull before it had opened up. They admitted that the bolts wer© not inspected. » Mr McKean suggested that the department also should call expert evidence on the condition oi the iron fastenings. The suggestion of the last witness made the course suggested by Mr Foden desirable. Mr Foden agreed to c|ll expert evidence. Mr Moody said that th« owners would grant the department permission to inspeet the hull and extract bolts. Mr Foden said that the surveybrs who had examined the vessel would he called, but he thought that production of the bolts themselves would obvjate this. Mr Walsh, president of the Seamen's Union, strongly opposed this propoeai and said that th© failure of the Marine Department to call its experts suggested lack of confidence in them. One of the questions to he answered was whether the method of survey was satisfactory. This should be answered by the department; if not, the department would be running away from its job. The chairman, having announced his decision to hear further evidence, William Lindsay Horne re-entered the b'ox and said that weakeqing of the perpendicular bolts would thrpw greater stress on the etreps or "kuees" and these, being corroded, would break under heavy strain with the result that the vessel would open up. (Opening of enqxiiry on pago 13,)