MISCELLANEOUS.

Inangahua Times, Volume II, 1 September 1880, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

♦ : . The anxiely felt about the Ataianta bns given rise (says an English paper) fo a Rii^sestion that every sea-going vessel should be c-mpelleJ lo ("firry at least one of (lie so«ea'led ' p^a-rnc^enfipr.".' The seaimefßO'iger is a cnsk made in various sizes of copper, in comp.-M-i rain's ; and, nceordioi lo iis k'z-?, k't'eis, despatches, 6liip3' lo«3, j^rcfiSfery, and oilier valuables can be in-,?r'od In it. The c;ivk can be quiel-ly ln?«'i»iei-'eallv Re-iled go i*i«t no water can <jet in. fD'l n'ay'tlicn be tlirovrn overbnarri with the assnrairec tlmfc is wil) rejn»in rflnat for a very 'r* :1 '-I invio. 'J'hnt it vr^u'.d be {lesi»->ilile ''of evory rePScI lo be provided ve\ h kneh a mps»en2 p r can JiHrdly be doubted ; nnd as Mr Aslibuvv F ( ale3 liiat if duiin'r the term of the new Parliament fmy modificnMon of tbe SLip))\n£ Act becomes neces*a.rv it is hh intention to ask one of bis friends io pro* pose a clause -mak^ tbe provision corns y.nlsorr, tlie> Riil>ject will probably Potdp to l^e lullv discussed. The ndvisabilify, lio«errr. o p sdopting a second -snuijestion, made \>y a correspondent of the Siandard. that ' if it is made law that every ship mu*t carry a seaxmessenger, Ihere nrns* pisobe an enactment that sliips sighting one Ti'iist, under ])Cnulty for omission, pick it un,' is ojvn to queftinu, A bandy steamer or well-found yacht might be - rUo without much trouble to pick up a f-innll caplr ; but, it would oUon be very difficult, if not impossible, for en ordi« riary merchsuc v^rsol to no so. Mores ever, it is difficult to tsce how such an c tuc'rnpnt rouid be enforced. A curtain unwillinc to delay bis voyage to pick tin ; messenger, could niways frame a pltmsibk excuse 'for not doiu(4 so. At the sam< time, cuviosity, if no fce'ter mo'ive rould cfueva\)y ho depended upon ti ensure that it vrould be dnna if possible.