THE MISSING DUCO

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 337, 12 March 1910, Page 5

THE MISSING DUCO

CLAIMS AGAINST THE OWNERS. By .Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Lust Night. Several actions ha v.. been commenced by the executors of W. HVaddelove, A. M. Wenand and others against the Wellington Harbour Ferries Company, claiming damages for loss of life through the alleged foundering of the deendant company's steamer The ]>i>ro. These claims all allege that the company despatched the Duco to sea in an unseaworthy condition, whereby the .wes |of life occurred. To-day the company ( applied to the Court in its Admiralty . jurisdiction under t.lio Shipping and f*eamen's Act to limit the company's lialiil- | itv to £ls per ton in terms of the Act, and to stay all proceedings in the Supreme Court until the Admiralty Court | lias decided whether the Duco was lost through the owners' actual fault, upon i which the question of right'to limit | liability to £.15 per ton depends. The j executors of Waddilove and Wenand oh- . jeot to the jurisdiction o tlie Admiralty Court to grant such limitation, because J the Ferry Company had in its petition denied all liability whatever, and it was contended that before the petition could be delivered this denial of liability should be withdrawn. The motion was adjourned bv the Chief Justice till tomorrow to enable counsel for the Ferry Companv (Mr Samuel) to consult as to "whether- the company would consent to amendment of tlie pleadings; admitting, certain liability. I