[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] STRANDING OF THE VESPER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 66, 19 March 1910, Page 9

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.] STRANDING OF THE VESPER.

CAPTAIN'S CERTIFICATE CANCELLED. AUCKLAND, 18th March. The magisterial enquiry into the stranding of the m?ow Vtuper at Whangaparoa was concluded to-day. W. Stanley Clark, the Vesper's engineer, eta ted that, on tho night of the collision, he went to bed early while the veseel was off Rangitoto Channel. In his cabin was a bottle of rum, which, at the time he retired, was practically full. Witness went to sleep, and did not wake again until the chip was on the rocks. He went on deck, and then proceeded to the cabin of Peterson, the captain, in company with Wills. It took a long time to waken Peterscn, who wa& asleep in his bunk. When awakened, it was evident that the master wat> under tho influence of liquor. Witness then noticed that a third of the rum was gone from the bottle in hie cabin. Edgar P. Goldsboro', agent for the Vesper, said that he issued orders for the Tboat to proceed with the work of unloading the Kaipara, and on the morning in question, «?nt three bottles of whisky aboard for the crew. As far as | the agents were concerned, Wills was I master of the ship, representing tho owner's interests. Petereen was only there because it was necessary to carry ! a certificated master on the boat. Witness knew that Petersen was a man of intemperate habite. Captain Fleming, marine superintendent, gave format evidence, and this completed the enquiry. The court cancelled the certificate of Captain Petersen, and ordered the owners to pay the cost of the enquiry.