SHIP "ARRESTED."

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1920, Page 5

SHIP "ARRESTED."

CASE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. THE C. S. H6LMES FROM 'FRISCO.

. The process known as "seizing" a ship, wiieh is a somewhat rare procedure, was carried out in New Plymouth yesterday morning in connection with the C. S. Holmes, now lying in /the harbor.

The seizure is the result of the institution of an action in the Supreme Count (under its Admiralty jurisdiction) for £BOO damages alleged to have been sustained to the cargo during the voyage. The plaintiff is a local merchant, and the owner of the cargo which is alleged to have been damaged during the vessel's trip frftm San - Francisco to New Plymouth.

The method of seizing' the vessel, sometimes known as "arresting" a ship, is to nail a copy of the warrant and of the writ of summons to 'the mainmast. As Marshal of the Admiralty Court in New Plymouth, thiß duty was performed by Mr. James Jordan (Registrar of the Supreme Court), who boarded the C. S. Holmes with the papers. When a ship is deemed to he seized she may not leave the port without the authority of the Marshal. In .the case of seizure of cargo a guard is placed over the goods. These actions are rare occurrences, hut an instance of similar proceedings' in New Plymouth was recorded in the seizure of the Otillje ford, which .took place some itime ago.