CAPTAIN LOGAN’S GRIEVANCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4539, 7 October 1875, Page 3

CAPTAIN LOGAN’S GRIEVANCE.

TO TIIR EDITOR OF THE HERALD. Sir, —Will you allow mo a small corner in your valuable paper to easo-off my pent-up feelings, which have been smonldeiing for the last ten m: nibs? I have been patiently waiting to see if an injustice that has been done to my owners and myself would be put light. After waiting so long, 1 find there is no chance of this being done. At the risk of being tedious, 1 may as well state my grievance. Tho Hero left Sydney in November last, having on board fifty-five saloon and forty-two and a half adult steerage passengers, fifty horses, besides a general cargo. Unfortunately for all on board, tho weather from the commencement until the close of the voyage was wet and miserable, and, as a rule, I find with passengers fine weather, fine ship; bad weather, bad ship. The poor captain often comes in for his share of the abuse, which, on this occasion, I had my share of, but especially from one whom I thought would be the last to grumble. To be candid, I will mention his name, no less a personage than the Marquis of Normanby. We had scarcely got out of Sydney Heads before he asked me for my cabin. I told him I would be most happy to give it to him only that I had a sick young gentleman in it, and that if I put him below he might die. (Poor young man, he has since gone to his long home.) Whether this offended tho Marquis Ido not know ; for he commenced to find fault—first, that we had too many horses, although ho had seven of his own on board; then, that he did not like travelling with actors and actresses; also, that ho found out tiiat he had paid more for his passage than they had. I did think it strange for a Governor to talk in that way, putting himself on a par with actors and actresses. 1 think I told him that he was mistaken, for both he and his lady had a cabin each to themselves, and were only charged £ll, which ought to have been £36, and, as a rule, the profession . got 20 per cent, knocked off. I think his Lordship had no room to complain on that head. However, he made himself very disagreeable all the way. and told me one morning at the breakfast table that he would never travel in the Hero again. I told him that I thought we could get along as usual without him. I may tell you, Mr. Editor, ! was thankful to land him safely; but ho did not seem to be thankful, for he told my agent before leaving the ship that he would make it hot for the Hero—l must say very kind, gentlemanly words for the representative of her Majesty to make use of. On my return from Melbourne I found in my absence from the ship that two gentlemen had been on board, and inquired of the steward which was the saloon, measured it according to their own way of thumbing, and found wo could only carry forty saloon passengers, although my two certificates, one from Melbourne, the other from Sydney, were hanging up before their eyes, showing that we could carry eightynine passengers in the saloon and ninety-eight in tho steerage. I was summoned to attend before the late Judge Beckham and lined £l5O and costs. I will try to show how the decision was arrived at. According to the Imperial Passenger Act, the Hero can only carry 42J passengers (steerage) when horses are carried, and having just the prescribed number in the steerage (saloon passengers are not counted), we were entitled to carry as many horses as we had room for. The Hench admitted we were right as regards the steerage, but we find by Mr. Hose and Captain Clayton’s measurement “that the saloon can only carry forty passengers ; so we will take fifteen out of the saloon and put them in the steerage, and make you a passenger ship.” I must say the decision arrived at staggered both my counsel and myself, knowing that the decision arrived at was wrong. I appealed to a higher court; but, unfortunately for me, the way in which tho case was stated by tho magistrate, the door was shut against us there. Our only course (lien was to bring it before Parliament, which has been done by one of your worthy citizens—with what result? Our petition was refused. I know I am transgressing on your space; but ft few words more. Tho late Judge Beckham after his decision visited the Hero with a friend of mine, and acknowledged to him that a mistake had been made, and' that lie would recommend the Government to refund tho money. Captain Clayton has also acknowledged that the saloon was wrongly measured. Mr, Stewart, the Government Engineer, has even taken a plan of the saloon, and shown sixty sleeping-berths, besides others to spare ; and after all this, tho Government, that are supposed to see justice done, refuse to bo convinced that they have done a gross injustice. To conclude, I think both tho Victorian and New South Wales Governments have been insulted by their certificates being ignored. I could say much more, but will, perhaps, let this injustice be known in another quarter. By inserting this you will much oblige, —Yours, &c., Thomas Looan, Master s.s. Hero. Auckland, September 29,1575.