THE DEFENDER INQUIRY.

Taihape Daily Times, 9 August 1918, Page 3

THE DEFENDER INQUIRY.

WELLINGTON, August 7. At the inquiry iuto the destruction of the steamer Defender in Wellington harbour. Frank Leonard Peterson, engineer on the Defender, said that when oil was being loaded he was busy on repairs to the shaft. A naked light was used on the job. which was right aft, well away from the cargo hold. Witness was not in the stokehold, but a fireman was there cleaning the boiler tubes, and he would probably need a light for the work. He knew of open rivet holes in the bulkhead, but he understood from the captain that they had been plugged. He attached no importance to them in any case. The fires in the stokehold were out. When he left the engine-room men were working there, using a light, but he did not consider there was any danger in using a light so far away from the benzine.

Thomas Eoland Dossett, fireman, said he was working in the stokehold up to the time of the fire, and was using a hand lamp. He did not smell benzine fumes in the stokehold. There was no flash from his lamp as if it had ignited benzine fumes.

Hamilton Stuart Whiteside, able seaman, said the fire originated at at the bulkhead near the stokehold, In the forecastle fumes were strong. The crew w*ere apprenhensive of danger on account of this.

Ernest Croft, a watersider, was working in the hold when the fire broke out. He heard >a report, and a flash of flame came from the bulkhead. Ho had warned the captain and mate about the danger of holes in the bulkhead. Witness considered the bulkhead absolutely unsafe. Alfred Edward Chandler, watersider supported Croft’s evidence. Captain Dawson, harbour-master, said application? was made’ for (ihe Defender to come alongside an oil steamer and load oil. Ho said permission could not be given unless all fires were out and no lights kept aboard. Ho admitted the Board’s by-law was absurd. If enforced to the letter, no inflammable oils could be carried in any ship. The inquiry was adjourned until Friday.