LOSS OF THE DUNCAN CAMERON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 463, 21 March 1867, Page 2

LOSS OF THE DUNCAN CAMERON.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Mr Editor, — Would you allow me, through the columns of your valuable li/lle journal, to male a few remarks respecting the loss of the Duncan Cameron* I trust the importance of the subject will justify my offering to intrude on your space. I think. Sir, few events have been chronicled in the history of Ifapicr, with feelings of deeper sorrow and sadness than the loss of the ill-fated vessel. The loss of the cutter was much to be deplored, but the loss of life much more so, in every point of i'isc ; the cutter can be replaced, but not the poor fellows who were cut off from friends and relations, and made acquainted with ell (he diead realities beyond the grave. Bui I have no wish whatever to discuss either of these subjects.at present, my object, if possible, is to turn the sad accident to profitable account, by using the painful lesson taught us, as a beacon ic guide us in the future, and this can only he dotie by at once making the necessary improvements SO ifiitCfi iviinlea. Tool vast improvements ure needed is proved beyond dispute in the evidence of Captain Frost, of the schooner Success, before the coroner at the inquest .

( I may ere remark. Sir. that the enquiry war conducted in the most ’praiseworthy manner, and from the questions asked, and the order in which they were put, clearly showed pre-arranyement on fh* nnrf af th* rornnpr trnrf fha .jtjt. . 1 V > I CjJCitiiU/* . of the same question clearly showed that he (the i coroner) teas determined, if possible, to learn the ' facts connected with the loss of life.

From the evidence elicited from Captain Frost it would appear that considerable delay was occasioned from some cause or other , for he stated most distinctly that he teas informed by his steward, at 7.30 am., that the vessel was capsized, and at 6.55 a.m. he was asked by the Assistant Pilot' to go in the life-boat. Here we have an interval of 1 hour and 25 minutes.—to do what ? — Cap-

tain Cellem, in his evidence, says could he done in a few minutes. Captain Frost further, states i—- “ That when he arrived at the boat-shed the boat was not readyf notwithstanding 1 hour and 25 minutes had elapsed, and gives it as his opinion that the necessary gear was not there to get the boat ready for sea. What length of time Captain Frost remained at the boat-shed before the signal was hoisted on Barrack-hill to denote the unfortunate sufferers were washed off the cutter, does not appear. But one thing is certain from the evidence, that the boat was not ready when he arrived, nor during the time he stayed.. He states that neither oars nor rowlocks were lashed, and that the steer-strap was not filled. For such neglect, and slow movements in getting the boat ready, surely some one is responsible. Bat, without ptaciny any unfavourableconstruction on anything said by Captain Frost, I \should like to know why any time was needed to, provide any gear at the moment when the boat waswanted for service.

The storm had evidently been raging about fora few days vrevious, which ought to be the signal to have everything ready in case of need; surely the boat has been long, enough in the hands of the Government, and under the charge of a man whoseduty it was, in my humble opinion, to have had her ready fov any emergency.. Captain Cellem, ingiving his evidence, does not in any way improvematters, I think. He admits that, on the 12 th instant, when he hoisted the Blue Peter, for the captain to keep to sea, his impression was, that the position of the vessel would be a perilous one, if the captain brought her tip in the roadstead. Now, with such an admission, was it not, Mr. Editor, clearly some one's duty to have seen the lifeboat afloat ; oars, rowlocks, and everything elseconnected with her properly secured and all ready for action, without requiring such an unmerciful length of time to get her ready when wanted. Poes not the neglect of so plain a duty deserve investigation.

One would think that common prudence would have dictated such a course to any man holding a responsible position. The object of the -present letter is not to blameany one without giving him every facility to justify his conduct. I have no doubt much may be said about the present life boat, “pro and con," but this can soon beset at rest, by following the course suggested by the Editor of the Herald. “ Have the boat surveyed by competent men ; if they pro—pronounce her unflfor the purposes of a life-boat let her be condemned at once, and another got in her place, — self-pumping and self-righting if youlike, — still, more than this would be needed, however essential these qualities may be. Without nerve to brave the danger, and determination to give promptitude to action, the present boat is as good as any other. I cannot close the present letter without saying that I sincerely trust that further inquiries into this ■melancholy loss of life will be made by the proper authorities, and the result of their labors will be beneficial to the Port of Napier. Yidi. Dear Mr. Editor, — Will you allow me, through the medium of your valuable journal, to inquire of some one the reason our Deputy is using his utmost to overflow the labor market, by circulating■ to out settlers pri/ded bills, stating he can supply them with men at ten shilings per week, with board. Has he received a commission from some Poor-Law-Board, in or near Auckland,, for the purpose of draining their pauper overplus ? Or is he tryingto overstock our labour market, so that in a month or so we shall require tenders for pauper supply f To me it seems one or the other. ; perhaps I may say both. If so, it behoves us to enquire into the matter before it is too late. At the present time there is more labour in the market than we require, so that such a system as the one now in use by our. \ second in command, is deserving of censure from

some quarter. Again, should such printed letters find their way into any of the home papers, it tcould do this province harm, I fear already some one has sent them to their friends, if so, ice need not expect many emigrants this year from Britain. Neogamist. Mr. Editor, —Can you, or any gentleman inform me, through the medium of your paper, if the resolution, which was passed at a meeting held in the Council Chamber some months ago (at which the Superintendent presided), v i:., to form an Artillery Corps in Kapier, is to be carried into effect , or abandoned altogether? If not the latter, I think it is quite time that some steps should be taken to drill the men who enrolled themselves on that occasion, and get the corps into working order , The guns have been in I\apier some time, and surely something ought to be done in the matter. Personally I know seveml young men who would join if the corps shonid he started, no doubt there art plenty of others in Xapier who would come forward too. Hoping some one will be kind enough to give me the required information. Big Got Drill..