Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 135, 11 June 1886, Page 2

[BY TELEOKAI-11. — OWN REPORTER, j|

Russell, (his day. Great excitement si ill prevails hero concerning the Petrel wise, and, aa all the cvi donee haa not yet boon taken by the Consular inquiry, tho suspense as to what will be the outcome of the serious charges made will be considerably prolonged. Progress is retarded by (he anxiety of every witnesf to tell a lengthy story. The captain and first mate crossexamine at great length, and the Consular Agent follows with a number oE questions, tending to show whether or not the crew had opportunities to report illtreatinent, evidently making a point of the fact that although Captain Webb, whilst in Russell, asked them what they had to say, witnesses all acknowledged having laid no" complaints—in the first place from fear of the captain, and, aa concerned Captain Webb, because they did notreceiveconlidence from the manner in which the latter spoke to . them The inquiry is held in a small hall, and daily attracts a large number of tho inhabitants. The weather is freezingly cold, and nearly every one takes advantage of the slightest lull in the proceedings to run out and get his feot warm. Nearly the whole of the crew of the whaler are now staying on shore. I have frequent deputations from them, and hear their troubles over and over again. They say they will nevei go to eea again with tho captain of tho Petrel, but will remain here. The chief officor of the barque, whatever he may have boan on board ship, treats the men very kindly now, having obtained lodging and food for several of them. In Court ho examines every witness, pleading with them to tell nothing; but tho truth, with the object of showing that he only carried out the captain's orders, that whatever else ho did was for the son's own good, that ho had neglected to punish thorn when expected to do so, and that, what is perhaps tho most important point of all, that in his treatment of the deceased cooper, the punishment administered was principally in joke; that tho man was a hard case, and that the mate of ton merely " pretended " to punish him. Such admissions were made by some of the witnesses, but others wero incredulous, and adhered to their previous statements. The second mate asks very few questions.