TO SALVAGE A VESSEL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 174, 27 August 1909, Page 3

TO SALVAGE A VESSEL.

THE TROUBLES OF AN " EXPEDITION." By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, last Night. In the Supreme Court to-day. Sebastian Ne*«jon, who chartered the wow Rona for salvaging operations at Pallfeer Bay, was charged with having scat the scow to sea in an unfit condition. When the Bona was sent on tin? expedition she had nine persons aboard. She leaked badly, and went ashore in Palliser Bay, and broke up. In explaining the case against New•on, Mr. Myers, Crown Prosecutor, said case was somewhat peculiar. Indeed, he had never heard of such a case before the Courts of New Zealand, It did not arise under the Crimes Act. The facts of the case were that on the beach at Palliser Bay there was a vessel ashore during March last. The accused thought he would make an attempt to salve the wreck. He therefore chartered the ketch Rona, which had been lying on the beach at Rona Bay for gome months. There had been in the' vessel an engine, which had bc;n taken out carelessly. Then the prisoner Rot together a crew under an able seaman. The Rona was brought off the leach round to Thornton, a'nd aft?r & wait the expedition started. As sin went down the harbor she began to kak. She made more water outside the beads, and the crew had to bail u'lt. The pumps were broken down, and the bailing appliances were uncertain. The boat was not capable of carrying more than three, though there was a crew of nine aboard. The vessel sank on the leach in bad weather. The case was not finished when the Court rose.