THE RIPPLE DISASTER

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1925, Page 1

THE RIPPLE DISASTER

A VIDOV OLAIALS £1,500. [aY TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION, WELLINGTON, Nov. 25.

A claim hv Aland Ellen Nicholson, widow of the late Chief Officer of the Ripple, which was lost in a storm olf Cape I’alliser on August 7th. 1924, for £ISOO damages from the owners of tho steamer, Richardson and Co., is being heard by Justice Alpers at the Supreme Co urt. l’laintid’s case alleges that the shi,. wont to sea in an unseaworthy condition owing to the way the cargo was stored, and the Company did not a certain the advice of the Government .Meteorologist as to the prospects of danger of a storm. Arthur l’age, light-house keeper at C’ape Palliser, said that on the night in question, he saw a vessel at sea three miles off. The vessel sent out an “5.0.5.” about 2.30. He. found she was the Ripple. He got in touch with

Feutherston and then with AYellington. The Ripple asked if lie had established communication with AYellington. Ho got in touch with Captain Petersen, "ho stated he was sending the tug I’erawliiti from Wellington. About 2 p.m. the vessel disappeared. lie had never seen a more severe storm on the East Coast than that of this night. Daniel Bates, Director of the Afetoorologieal Office, produced records dealing with the date. He had forecasted disturbances. A storm eventuated on the sth. On the morning of the Gth. he issued a special warning of heavy gales northward of Cook Strait. The storm developed, especially in the evening. The centre of the storm was at Capo Palliser. The seas would lie at their worst there between II p.m. and •'! a.in. His practice was. after being rung up by captains of vessels as !<■ the weather likely to obtain, that ho told them that they were risking their lives by going to sea under certain con ditious. Joseph Friar, watersidor, employed ill loading tho Ripple, said she was a most difficult boat to load. She was likely to “flop” any way. She liad to he loaded with extreme care, or she would list. He thought that casks "ore the most dangerous kind of onrg> to stow, and should not under any < ircumstances he used to trim a boat. Casks wore dangerous cargo on deck as they were difficult to secure, and they easily broke loose. Robert Edwards (plumber), and Martin Johnson (second cook of the Kamo) deposed as to tho Ripple having a decided list to port when leaving the harbour. At this stage a witness for the dofence. Captain Afartin. master of the AVaitoa. was called, and ho said the Waitoa left later than tho Ripple. Five others left the same afternoon. Frederick Howell, able seaman, assistant secretary of the Seamen's Union said he had worked on the Rippl” and had assisted in loading the vessel. She was a touchy ship and qaired careful loading. The Ripple had a list. If Captain Tomlinson said that he had examined the Ripple Ikl- - she sailed, and that she had no list, lie would he committing ]>c rj ury, and so would other witnesses who made similar statements. Witness did not k/nnw the Ripple was sailing with such a list. Had lie known that, it would have been his duty to have ml vise the seamen to leave the vessel rather than take her to sea. Air AYatson. at this stage, ashed for a non-suit on the grounds that there was no negligence on the part of the dofendanf Company, or that there was evidence that the deceased met his death as the result of any negligence, and no evidence that cargo was wrongly slowed. His Honour said the evidence was that there was a preponderance of casks on one side. The hearing was adjourned.