An action was brought in the Whitechapel County Court, by a ship's pump-maker, to recover �10, balance for making a pair of pumps for the emigrant ship Flora Kerr. The evidence disclosed some terrible facts, deserving the serious attention of sea-going persons and merchants.

The plaintiff proved the order and delivery of the pumps ; and, in cross-examination, admitted that they had not been bored, that the chambers were in the same rough state they were cast in, and that he was in the habit of supplying numbers of ships with similar unfinished engines because shipowners would not give a price to profit him in making efficient pumps. Mr. Pelham, the solicitor of Arbour-square, denounced, in strong terms, the rascality of a tradesman furnishing ships with so essential a safeguard as pumps in a state unfit for their purpose.

He should be able to show that had the Flora Kerr gone to sea with these pumps, the first storm she got in would have sent her and her helpless crew and passengers to the bottom. It ? had been his lot all his life to be raised up in maritime law disputes ; but of all the flagrant cases he ever heard, the present excelled. Mr. Pelham called engineers to speak to plaintiff's' pumps, and they swore that, through the chambers not being the first six strokes at the pump would cause it to be choked ; that the diameter of the pumps' cylinders was smaller at the bottom than at the top - a make which in itself would naturally prevent suction. The plaintiff's pumps had also iron nails instead of copper, and the action of the seawater would corrode them. The defendant's witnesses positively swore that, had not the captain tried the pumps in dock, if caught in a storm the Flora Kerr would not have reached Port Phillip.

The learned judge in warm terms, characterised the plaintiff's conduct as disgraceful, and regretted that the terms of the contract compelled him to give a verdict for the plaintiff for �3 3s., but he would not allow a farthing costs. Morning Chronicle.

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Page 125 ; 11 Jun 1855

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