INSPECTION OF VESSELS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2057, 30 April 1907, Page 3

INSPECTION OF VESSELS.

MORE VIGOROUS POLICY. Press Association. AUCKLAND, yesterday. Replying to a deputation of the Trades and Labor Council, the Hon. Air. Alillar said with reference to the remarks made on the subject of unseaworthy vessels, lie would give instructions for fresh surveys. If necessary ail expert shipwriglit_would be employed to assist Air. Duncan, chief inspector of machinery, dealing with wooden vessels. He was determined to restore the confidence of Auckland people. Every effort would be made to put tilings in order without interfering to any great extent with the running of vessels. AUCKLAND FERRY STEAAIERS. AUCKLAND, yesterday. A deputation of residents from marine suhurbe interviewed tlie Hon.

Air. Alillar and urged the necessity for the Marine Department, looking carefully into the matter of the inspection of ferry steamers, some of which had been running in Auckland harbor for over thirty years, and according to certificates were sen worthy. It was stated that nearly all these steamers were licensed to carry as many passengers as an ocean liner. Some carried over one thousand. Mr. Alillar said the loss of the To Archil came as a shock to more than ApekInnd residents. Hitherto the inspection of vessels ill New Zealand had been known throughout Aiinlralnsiii to lie most drastic. Alasters and engineers of foreign-going vessels had slated they would prefer a Board of Trade inspection. The steamer Surrey, a large home-going vessel, which was allowed to leave the Old Country and come here via Australia, was detained on arrival at Wellington and prohibited from leaving until new furnaces bad been fitted- She «*as now at Port Chalmers, and it would be three months from the day of her (Suspension until she was able to go away again, henvowners having had to send to England for new furnaces. The steamers coining from England for tho Union Company had had'certificates form Lloyd’s showing their boilers were allowed to reach a certain pressure. The New Zealand inspector worked out the boiler pressuro again and found the pressure allowed by Lloyd’s was not allowed bore, and the pressure was reduced, notwithstanding the vessels had just arrived from tho Old Country. In

. Auckland he understood some shipowners were preserving plates orderled to lie cut out of their vessels to support their contention that the plates condemned by the Marine Department were actually sound. Up to the To Aroliti casualty be bad no reason to doubt that the- inspection of vessels at Auckland was of a thorough character. He knew there was considerable alarm in the minds of people. To allay this he hud asked Mr. Duncan, chief inspector of machinery, after a brief visit to Wellington. to return here to make impersonal inspection of every one of the older steamers trading in Auckland harbor. The Alinister assured the deputation that as far as the Department was concerned nothing would he wanting to see that ihe vessels wore seaworthy.