THE TAINUI INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1919, Page 8

THE TAINUI INQUIRY.

• Jl TIJfATEESIDER'S EVIDENCE.

Bj Telegraph.—Press Association.

Christchurch, Oct. 3. The ./adjourned inquest into toe circumstances connected with the Tainui disaster at Gore 'Bay fas resumed at lijttelton to-day. James Hughes, waterside worker, Stated that he was employed loading the Tainui on September 15. The cargo consisted mainly of benzine and ploughs and in his experience he had never seen a benzine cargo in such a bad state as regards leaking conditions. 6ome cases were completely empty and pome of the cases were rejected by the workers in the hold and they were placed on deck. He, however, noticed that some were still leaking. The chief offifeer instructed him that no leaky cases must -go in the hatches, particularly stressing the after hatch. When the loading started a notice was put up forbidding smoking or naked lights on or near the vessel. Four cases were rejected from the after hatch, but about 15 per cent of the cargo in number one hatch consisted of leaky cases. These were sent on deck and though no eases.were sent ashore there was an average of stent one leaky case to every sling, ft was the duty of the stevedores to'fend the leaky cases up on'deck.

LEAICY CASES

Christchurch, Last Night. '■' Thomas Fanll, a waterside worker .aid that everv sling of cases contained at least on. leaky case. *" weral picked out on deck and the dry meg sent to the hold. Occasionally a leafcy case was returned to the decfc Nolan appeared to have charge of the Joi. He first noticed the leaky 3foi of the cases »*«««*.*"* tatte tricks. A seamen's delegate •drew Ms attention to the cond.t.on of the cases The mate instructed that SedTcases were .to be picked out for th7after hold. He had had previous experience in handling petrol, and wmsidered tKs consignment very bad by Carton with what he had previously handled. PlouJhs were placed on *he top of No. 1 hatch. . Charles Benson said he was working No. 1 hate*, most of the time. He noticed the condition of the cases but it was difficult to say whether a case was actually leaking unless the lid was taken off. The Tainui's cargo was no better nor no worse than any other cateo He did not hear any of the crew'complals abont the state of th» cases. No »ne about him. anticipated danger. The coroner asked if there was any Chinee o { benzine running to another pa.-t of the Bhip. Witness replied that as !ar as he could see it would run under the stokehold. The coroner said the reason for tne onestion was becawe the fireman on the watch at the time the vessel caught nre was the<«nly one of the five bodies recovered who'se face was singed. Theodore Neilson said he had sent leaky cases up i»n deck from No. 1 hatch. Some were weA hut they may not have been leaky. After completing No. 1 hatch he went co the after hatch. Nolan gave strict imfructions not to take any cages in that hold if they were leaking. He thought the vessel was in a safe condition when the loading was completed. On the trip to Timaru, immediately before the disaster. Captain Wilcox. Assistant Marine Superintendent, ordered the after hatch to be kept clear of benzine, and the Tainui went down to Timaru with her hold empty. Andrew Anderson, launch owner, said le saw a shower of motor spirit on the ■water falling from the slung cases being hoisted into the Tainui, and made a remark that the boat would not get to its destination. There was always a danger in carrying leaking tins as deck cargo on boats where there was coal fires.

Alexander Runs deposed that the cargo put into the Tainui was leaking more than he had seen in the case of other cargoes of motor spirits. They did not act on Nolan's instructions to stow in the after hatch any cases .showing signs of leakage- About "5 cases which could not be stowed on deck had, by_ the captain's orders, been placed in No. 2 Jiold. They were nearly all wet, but six were sent back to the deck'. In his opinion, the bulkhead was not much good. It had a lot of holes in it. The hold was not in a fit condition to take the last 75 cases.

Williams, one of the Taihui's seamen. / told him he did not think he would sleep at night. There were too many fume-. And everything stank of motor spirits There was no danger from the deck cargo. In reply to the coroner, witness said the fumes might escape through holes in the bulkhead into the bilge, and then run along to the engine-room. Herbert Fitzwater, formerly an officer on the Muraroa, stated that he saw benaine' being loaded into the Tainui, and, in consequence of the leakage, remarked tllat he would be very =nrry to go to sea in such a boat, and that if he had any control in the matter he would shift the cargo. Other evidence as to the leaky nature of the cargo having been heard, the inquest was adjourned till Tuesday. Hie police nave seven more witnesses to call