WIMMERA ENQUIRY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16341, 12 October 1918, Page 11

WIMMERA ENQUIRY.

COUNSEL'S ADDRESSES. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, October 11. At the Wiramera enquiry, Mr McVeagh, for Huddart-Parker, ad"lre3sinj* the Court, asked: Was it likely that «• man. with Captain Hell's reputation would be guilty of wanton carelessness and disobedience of. instructions? The evidence must be cf the cl oar cat and most convincing nature. The Court had to bear in mind that the Wimmera nEased over the same course on tiie previous trip, that the captain was not warned that his course was dangerous, nor was any report made '.o headquarters. The Court had also to consider the possibility that the explosion might have been internal, and caused, by a dead!;.* machine. There wea a suggestion that Captain Kell was cutting off cornors ar.d taking risks to eavo time, but there was no necessity for that, &9 the voseel left Auckland in time to reach Sydney on Saturday afternoon, ad .no work could bo done till Monday. Counsel submitted that the cherge ivts one of eerious crime, and must be supported by the strongest proof. Mr Maya, counsel for the Marine Dcpm V ment. in. reply, said the question of manslaughter was not before the Court. It was obvious that the cau3e of the casualty was an explosion, or two cxploaione. The theory of internal exploeion was not supported by evidence. The' only conclusion was that tho ves3el 'waa struck by a inoored mine. The route orders i&iued to Captain Kell in October and January left ho possible misunderstanding. He was warned cf the danger in Auckland r.nd Sydney. There was no- navigation difficulty, and it was obvious that Captain Kell adhered to the course he had previously taken. Tiie Court adjourned till Tuesday.