DR. CAMERONasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the evidence reported to have been given by the Board of Trade Surveyor, Greenock, in the course of the Board of Trade inquiry into the wreck of the "Mount Royal," to the effect that when making his inspection of the interior of that vessel's hull previous to her sailing he had not a lantern but merely a few wax matches; that he did not touch any of the bolts, and could not do so without an order from the Board of Trade; that he did not look at any of the sails, having no power to order them to be lowered; that he did not order the carpenter to caulk the waterways, having no power to give orders of that kind; and that he did not point out anything to the captain, nor ask him to do anything, having no power to ask him to do anything; and, whether the survey was thus conducted: and, if so, whether the Board of Trade intend continuing the surveyor in his appointment.
§ SIR CHARLES ADDERLEYOne of the Board of Trade surveyors, Mr. Mills, and a very good one, sent information to the Board of Trade that the 1567 Mount Royal was going to sea apparently with a defective yard. This did not seem a sufficient ground for sending a provisional order for detaining her for survey, but the defective yard was replaced; but Mr. Mills afterwards going on board to inspect lights and crew space, which was his duty under the Act of 1862, observed during his inspection further defects. He had not been authorized to make a survey, therefore all he says of defective power was necessarily the case. He had to strike a light for the same reason, not having a lantern with him, as he would on a survey. I see nothing to animadvert upon. It would not do for a surveyor to take upon himself to survey without authority, and no ground had been shown for giving such authority in this case, though further defects were seen too late. Under any system a defective ship may sometimes escape detection.