Dissatisfied Engineers.

Manawatu Herald, 20 August 1903, Page 2

Dissatisfied Engineers.

At the Timara Magistrate’s Court on Monday MaoFarlane and Bamlett, second and third engineers of the steamer Isleworth, were prosecuted for refusing to proceed to sea on the vessel. When the steamer was leaving Lyttelton the firemen lodged a complaint with a Customs officer that the ship was nnseaworthy. Notice was sent to Timaru, and a Government Marine Surveyor made a survey of the ballast tanks, which were complained of as leaking and as being too weak to support the ship if she struck anything. The survey found two small leaks and ordered them to be patched. The tanjka ware then tested by filling, and ho farther leaks were found. The firemen were dissatisfied as No. 3 tank had only been glanced at as it was cemented over. The second and third engineers were also dissatisfied, and a few hours before the steamer was to leave for Sydney in ballast gave notice that they would not go in her until a further survey was made, especially of No. 3 tank, The hearing occupied some hours, and the Magistrate concluded that defendants bad not made out the existence of any unseaworthiness. The chief engineer’s and the Government Surveyor’s evidence was strongly adverse to them. Defendants were ordered to forfeit two days’ pay, and to pay the cost of the prosecution and solicitor’s fee, J2 2s. The captain paid the two engineers off.