I do not know what coal there was in the hold and what in the 'tween decks. The lower hold was lilicd up so that there was no fear of the cargo shifting. My chief officer saw to that. She was making no water in Newcastle. Ou the voyage prior to the casualty she made nothing to speak of. She never made (Jin in twenty four hours since I was iu her. My last cargo v.as general, principally case oil. That was Sanded in perfect condition. On former voyages when she carried coal- she made verv little water. She was a perfectly tight s hif». Since she ha« been built she has never called on the underwriters for a dollar for damages ou either ship or cargo, not to uiv knowledge, and I searched the records before I purchased her. She was built of oak frame aud hard pine ceilings and planking and hardwood knees—juniper, I think you' call it—eopper and galvanised fastenings. She was coppered up to i?Jft liin. Her last docking was in Apr'!. ls ' J: ' i ' was tlien tnorou S lll y op'ened up inside and outside, the centre line rebolted, and all ironwork that was worn was renewed. The masts were in per fect condition ; built lower masts, upper spirs of hard pine. She had standing wire rigging with hemp linings, all good. It was partly new ; we had been constantly renew ing from time to time. We had four pumps —two main and two bilge—ill hand pumps. We had no steam on board. Tnere were some spare spars on deck—one l)S:t long, another about O.jft. Those were the only 6par3 on deck. They were made fast by rope lashings to the water way and deck. I inspected them myself—l was in the habit of inspecting my ship all over—aud they were in good order. The lashings were renewed at Newcastle. It would be pretty hard to estimate the ship's value. I refused l.VWdol for her list October. It was not a linn offer : it wa* made in a jocular way. I would not have sold her for i.ViOOdol. I could not civ what she would bring ; it would all depend en the demand for vessels. Six ■rears ago she cost me, ready for sea, *47,BSSdoI, I cannot say what her value was. 