CORRODED WIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 392, 28 June 1928, Page 15

CORRODED WIRE

DAMAGE IN SHIP’S HOLD SUGGESTION OF SWEATING The Supreme Court was occupied all day yesterday in hearing a claim for £3so* damages by John Burns and Company, Ltd., against the captain and owners of the Canadian Explorer. It was alleged by the plaintiff company that a large part of a consignment of galvanised wire carried by the vessel from Sydney, Nova Scotia, had suffered damage by sea water in transit by the vessel to Auckland in December, 1925. Mr. H. P. Richmond, for the plaintiffs, argued that the damage, which had affected 40 per cent, of 2,340 coils of wire valued altogether at £875 10s, had not been suffered at the works where the wire was made, but the coils had been stowed too low in the ship’s holds and had thus come into contact with sea water. The defence raised by Mr. Rogerson was that the damage was caused by “sweating” of the wire in the course of transit, such goods being particularly susceptible to condensation of moisture. Samuel Page, analyst and ex-lecturer on chemistry at Canterbury College, described the chemical action of corrosion of galvanised goods. “We have the result here, which seems fairly conclusive,” said Mr. Rogerson, holding up a piece of red and rusty-looking wire when the test was concluded. “That means that this particular wire would not comply with the British regulations?” asked his Honour. Mr. Rogerson said that was so. The test carried out was also the one laid down by the Public Works Department of New Zealand. Cross-examined this morning by Mr. Richmond, witness said that “sweating” of the wire would take place so long as air of a higher temperature than that in the hold was able to enter. Quoting from the deck log book of the ship, counsel showed that there had been no drastic variations from day to day in the temperatures aboard the ship, but the thermometer had risen from about 30 deg at Nova Scotia to 70deg at Auckland. To Mr. Rogerson, witness said fco had been unable to discover any crys- ! tals of common salt on the coils of wire submitted for his examination. Mr. Rogerson held that reference to the log book made by opposing counsel ; was not relevant, and its records did not refer to the temperature of the holds. BEST EXPLANATION “Atmospheric condensation is the best explanation in sight,” declared Mr. Page. It was, however, impossible for him to make a positive declaration as to the cause of the corrosion. Charles C. Plunkett, marine surveyor of Auckland, said he liad had constant experience of corroded galvanised goods. Galvanised wire, iron and tubes were more subject to damage than other classes of iron goods. There was no suggestion of sea-water in the cases that had come under his observation, but the encrustation had nevertheless been apparent. He had been forced to conclude that condensation played a large part in the damage. It seemed to him that galvanised goods were prone to sweating. Captain Plunkett said he wished to refute a suggesItion made by a witness yesterday that consignees were not invited to inspect ships' holds. It had been his practice to conduct dissatisfied persons through the | holds when they so desired. Some discussion arose between counsel as to whether voluminous evidence taken on commission in Montreal, Sydney (Nova Scotia), Sydney (N.S.W.), and Auckland should be admitted. Mr. Rogerson put this evidence in, and it was subsequently agreed to read evidence of Captain Caesar Anthony Colonna, who had surveyed the Canadian Explorer on her arrival in Auckland. The gist of his evidence was that the wire had rusted from the effects of sea-air, which had entered through the venilators and condensed as a consequence of hot and cold weather encountered during the voyage. Mr. Richmond here suggested that the ship had put forward a theory of condensation which its own evidence had failed adequately to explain. Other cargoes of wire had arrived from the same manufacturers and had passed through similar climatic conditions yet were found to be in perfect order. Counsel pointed out that the particular vessel had carried on the previous voyage a cargo of salted pelts and i hides. He contended that the salt and , brine dropped from the cargo had lodged on and permeated the dunnage, or wooden planking on which the wire had subsequently rested. (Proceeding.)

False Birth Certificate. —A young woman whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty at the Police Court to- , day to a charge of registering as legitimate an illegitimate birth. She was ; committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Racing at Ellersiie. —The Te Kuiti Racing Club’s meeting is being held at Ellersiie racecourse on Saturday and Monday next. Particulars of the Railway Department’s train arrangements and holiday excursion issues are published in another column.