KIA ORA INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 163, 10 July 1907, Page 3

KIA ORA INQUIRY.

'wr_THBBJ r COMPAMTS MANAGBB EXAM-NED. SOVE EXPERT EVIDENCE. CAVANAGH lU3-E_____N__>. The Kia Ora mquiry was continued at jjje Magistrates' Court after we went to yesterday. Charles Kanson, manager of the Norown Steamship Company, produced a etatement of goods supplied to the Kia Jt-j for the last three months, showing tie profit made by the steward during that period. It showed that in April fid 12/ worth of liquor had been supplied, oni the boat during that time carried v? 3 passengers. In -May the figures were Ih] 7/ and 124. and up to the time of the «reck from then £7 14/ and 65. At the Eiice at which the company supplied tne Sjoor the steward's profits for the whole rtree months would amount to £6 12. __[x Kettle: Of course, we are perfectly satisfied that the company have done possible. Ik Hanson said when he received news lit the wreck he at first thought that if jossible it would be well to get the Waiimjto proceed to the relief of the shipwrecked people. He communicated with Mr Irvine, manager of the Union S.S. Company' who immediately placed the | Wainui at his services. After thinking it over, however, he decided that as the Tarawa would be off the Xew Plymouth jjjjakwater at dawn, and that the Waima's captain was a stranger to the coast, 5; would he preferable to send the Bara•fl. This was decided upon in the best of the shipwrecked people. It TKjold cost the company in one way and soother over £200 in providing for the tjjmwrecked people. 'Mr Mays said he could substantiate slat Mr Sanson had said as to what took place in Auckland. Everything was fione hy the company that was possible. ilr Kettle: That is the opinion of the Court. We axe quite convinced as to the provisions taken by the company. Contiinring, Mr Ranson said that Mr lis Wolfe was a man of the highest character as a seaman and officer. He .certainly would not have countenanced anT Q l i ll g like drunkenness on his vessel. jFor 18 or 19 J& IS he was chief officer of the Gairloch. Mr Bail: You had then the greatest 'confidence in him ?—Yes. There may be {more polished officers, but certainly we .}_vb aoae better versed in their duties. ■ Mr Earl: You promoted de Wolfe to •J_ Paeroa 2—-Yes. ffas_erenot some report made to yon jijoui iim while on that ship ? —Yes. 5 Ifr Sanson stated that de Wolfe was dismissed from the company's service on January 9, 1905, and was not taken on again until February, 1906, a period of '13 months. During this interval he was igiven employment as tally clerk, and his "conduct at this time was first class. In '{February of last year, the Barawa rea relieving officer, and Captain Norbmy took him on, knowing his recordj ■He was relieving officer on that vessel from February until April.

Mr Ranson then recapitulated the various vessels in which Wolfe had held positions in various capacities until Novemvber, 1906, when the company were reorganising the officers. He was then apIpointed chief mate of the Kia Ora, al/though Captain Stevenson, of the Nga'pnhi, wiflj whom he had served as a relieving officer,- asked ior him. All tne _ie de Wolfe acted as relieving officer _ character was first class.

■ Mr. Earl: Would Captain Blaeklock iave allowed one of bis officers to be pa the bridge in a state oi intoxication? i-I.am positive he would not.

Mr. Mays: Do you know that on one ticcasion the crew of the Paeeroa refused to sail with him?— No.

! Has it reached you that Captain Js___ck had complained about chief officer? —No: if such had been the &se, Captain Blaeklock himself would lave been the first to report him. He Eve him a good character only a month fore he was drowned.

Notk, a3 to Petersen, the chief steward: Have any complaints been made to _you about him as to drunkenness?

, Mr. Earl: I object to these allegations. Jfeta-word has, up to the present, been tail against Petersen.

1 —r. Kettle: It certainly does not appear relevant.

> Mr. Mays: T£ is relevant if I can show yhat the Kia Ora was a " drunken P%* » Mr. Kettle; That is altogether too Weeping. Do yon mean to say that fcreryone on the vessel was intoxicated, bam. the pantryboy upwards? Petersen Has not an officer, and took no part in }—! vessel's navigation. Mr. Mays: Very well; I am perfectly ■prepared to let it stand at that, if i Jan afterwards bring in rebutting evidence.

| Mr. Clayton: Surely the Court is not £ping to allow rebutting evidence. If so, tie inquiry will not finish before Christtoas.

"Mr. Mays: The public want to know jSgjt the circumstances connected •nth this disaster.

Ipfe. Kettle: The Court does not wish W shut out any evidence that is thought i^fr? 17 3Jld relerant - But to say gat Petersen had anything to do with Joe vessel's navigation is sjmplv ausurd, Z, , v to brin S people into "the box ga had nothing to do with the na-viga-

Air. Mays (to Mr. Ranson): Well, ' |l ~ toi you take de Wolfe back after ■*S past record?—Ee had been ashore 'a good twelve months, during which n_ c bore a good character. He was '«en°t« ffi —' "* " >ve thou S ht he d g^ 5 sufficiently punished. For workm, cargo well and ec-onomieailv de B«* ja s considered to be one of tha TV n ths coast - en on •Srith he t0 load fa t cattle P» astomshmg smartness. THE SALE OF LIQUOR. _^c_ l \? < : ttle: The reason they did ttL*7 £?* OWD Uuor was for two ■■man*-J? 6 st€ward3 > by making a fSrt ° ut of *. c " encouraged '»Jo* after the passengers; while it tSST 64 *" 17 tem P*»«on °n the j*",oi the stewards to cheat the comS^Tf " flw fay sell the liquor. The profit pr_±W a J"™ 1 one, and a similar was followed by other companies *f*~~ the company from -S___ i. What Xdo *X- said B-_rS% 3 P assen S er ask an P_h o? tH - dTink ' The « * too ' V 4 S OUI S on." The Court «"*• a^es \_Wed i i?a ! sen g er s should never be !***■"__ Shlp ' S ° fficerS *° Are there not regulations c_inldng ? _Te s : bnt in I O_WtW i 55 lfc is vel 7 difficult to at present. The passengers £*«_£- — *•-*"■■

CAHEAEST *

—SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE COMPASS. James Williamson, master of the Kotare, trading between Waitara and Kawhia, said that he left Waitara for Marokopa between 10 and 11 on' the night of the 11th. The night was not particularly thick, but he noticed that the current was remarkable. The current, which was usually found bearing north by east, took him northward of Awakino, about 3 miles out of his course.

Mr. Kettle: To what did you attribute this set?—l put it down to some axes on the deck affecting the compass. 1 spoke to the man at the wheel about coming in shore and getting so far out of his course.

Mr. Kettle: Had you ever had a similar experience?— No.

How far from the compass were the axes?—-About 4 or 5 feet.

Continuing witness explained how there was always a strong southerly set north of Mokau.

Mr. Kettle: Do you make allowance for this currents?— Yes, about two degrees.

To Mr. Clayton: In setting the course north .by east the allowance was included.

To Mr. Mays: The tide nearly always ran to the south-'ard on that coast. The tide was full about 10 o'clock.

Witness said he had known Captain Blacklock about four years, and was positive that he would never have allowed any of his officers to take the bridge did they show the least sign of intoxication.

To Mr. Kettle: It would have .been useless as a guide for the Kia Ora to have thrown the lead in approaching the coast, as the -water thereabouts was very deep. The lead might go out 30 or more fathoms.

And could any break have been seen on the reef?— No. It was very smooth.

Have you any theory for the accident? —-Well, I think it possible that the compass was sluggish owing to the very dead calm and lack of motion. In fact, I feel confident that there was something wrong with the compass. . The steering of no seaman would have been so wild as to take the vessel in there without contributory causes.

Is the jamming of the compass, then, a danger you have to guard against?— Well, I only suggest it may have been this that caused the trouble. He did not think that either a current or a bad compass would cause the accident.

Mr. Kettle: Would it be possible for a diver to reach the Kia Ora and search her? —I don't know, but I think so, she is on the point of .-the reef. CHARGES AGAINST THE CREW. Mr. Earl stated that the rest of the crew were ready to be called if the Court desired to hear them, but they could only corroborate what had already been said by others as to the conduct of de Wolfe after the wreck.

Mr. Kettle said that the only point on which the Court desired to hear the rest of the crew was as to the statement of Cavanagh that a blanket was pulled off his wife while she was lying on the beach. That was a gross accusation, and each member of the crew should have an opportunity of denying ! it.

j Cavanagh, re-called, stated that he could not identify any of the four men in question. Andrew Anderson, A.8., and Howard Betts, cook, were called, and both swore that they had heard_nothing ;of the blanket incident until they saw jit in the newspapers.

Cavanagh, re-called, stated that on the morning before the Kia Ora sailed he had half-a-dozen "porter-gaffs" at the Masonic Hotel, Waitara. He did not 'go into Wilson's Hotel that morning or that afternoon. Mr. Earl: What did you have in the afternoon? — About half - a - dozen "stamps." He had complained to the police at Waitara of being robbed at a Waitara Hotel. He was annoyed at being "taken down so simple," but it was not true' that he had been drinking hard. He could not carry liquor well, very little knocked him out. He might have had a couple of "porter-gaffs" at the hotel after tea before the Kia Ora sailed, a total of fourteen lor t_e day. He would not swear that he had not had more. a Mr. Earl: Yon say the chief officer was staggering when he collected your ticket. Yon had had fourteen "portergaffs." Did you see more than one chief officer? —I was quite sober, I was in company with the policeman for half-an-hour before we sailed.

Mr. Kettle: I suppose that is evidence you were sober.

Witness further stated that when de Wolfe came into the saloon with Baggstrom at 10.20 p.m., he could not say bow he was dressed, or whether he had a hat or a cap on. He saw de Wolfe holding a bottle in each hand, which were being filled while de Wolfe held them. The chief steward brought a wicker-covered demijohn from the direction of his cabin and filled the bottles at the sideboard. The drink he had was poured out by de Wolfe.

Mr. Earl: You had three whiskies on top of fourteen "portergaffs" inside half an hour; is it possible that you were seeing more than you ought to Might you have seen the ghosts of de Wolfe " and Baggstrom?—There's no doubt about it, I saw them.

Are you sure that de Wolfe helped you to whisky?—l am.

Mr. Earl: Listen to this: "You swore (readins from the depositions) de Wolfe beckoned to mc to join them, and I joined Baggstrom in a drink. —I would not swear that Baggstrom was one. But you have sworn ii. These statements were swoni by you. read over to you, and signed by you. "De Wolfe and 1 had whisky," that is your sworn statement. Do you adhere to it? —I won't swear that he had whisky.

Mr. Kettle: Do you wish to correct that? —Yes, I could not swear it.

Very well, you may correct your previous evidence.

Mr. Earl: Now listen to this: "The steward served us. "What have you to say to that? —I would not swear to that.

But you have sworn it. I said the steward served Partridge and myself.

Mr. Kettle: Do you wish, to correct your former statement? —I would not swear that the steward poured that out. De Wolfe handed mc the bottle.

Mr. Earl: Will you swear the stew ard was there at all?—No, I will not.

What was said when you had the drink? —I don't remember anything.

The chief officer just beckoned to you. and you came over and had a drink, not a word was said. You didn't erven say, "Kia Ora"? —Td had enough of that. (Laughter.)

The most silent drink I ever heard of. No conviviality about that.

Mr. Earl: Is, your story about the whisky jnst as true as your story about the inhinnanifies on the teach?—' From m_ pen— : of view.

'■ What do y_ou call "Your point of *vigw°*?—l have told the truth, and I _iorongnjy understand the nature of an oath. It's a pity that Baggstrom does not.

Are the whole of the officers and ■crew who have denied your stories of inhttmanity liars?—ln my opinion.

Who is in your opinion, the one white man in the crew?-r-Du_ning.

If he swore that there was no truth in the statements you made, is he a liar?

Mr. Mays: I object to that; it is a conclusion drawn by Mr. Earl Dunning's evidence should he read to him.

A portion of Dtmning's evidence was read, and Cavanagh denied that he had not assisted to carry wood to the fire. He was the first to carry driftwood when the others where chipping at the fire, and after with the tomahawk. Mr. Earl: Then he is a liar, too?—On points. The remainder of the evidence was read, and witness said that he denied Dunning's evidence, as to the fire and the time his wife.went under the shelter.

Mr. Earl: Then we must reluctantly put down Dunning as a liar?—No, he is a gentleman, every inch of him.

But you say he has sworn falsely? Partridge says that he did not have" a drink with you. Was he one of the liars? —He did have a drink with mc and refused the second.

The he is wrong?— Yes.

You say that de Wolfe was drunk, that you saw him go down to the steward's pantry and fill a bottle with whisky, and had a drink with him?— Yes.

Knowing that he was the chief officer and had to go on duty?—l did not know he was chief officer.

But you knew he was already drunk, and under those circumstances you had a drink with him. Are you proud of yourself?—l am not a bad sort.

Mr. Kettle: How do you explain your conduct? —I did not know he was goinc on duty.

Mr. Earl: But you have sworn that Partridge went for the chief officer?— I swore that he said he was goino- to look for the chief officer.

The stewardess said that she saw de Wolfe taking tickets, and that he was sober. Is she a liar, too? You have heard Baggstrom make his statement about you. Is he lying, too?—I did not hear his statement. Mr. Earl: What! you were sitting in the body of the Court at the time?—l was when he made his statement from the body of the Court. And in the witness box too. Mr. Kettle: Baggstom's statement was directed absolutely at him. Mr. Earl: Have you any doubt about it? —Now I remember it.

Mr. Kettle: Do you say that you forgot that Baggstrom so emphatically denied your statement?— Now I remember it.

Mr. Earl: What sort of a memory have you?—l did not remember for a minute. Ido now.

Mr. Earl. Then Baggstrom is added to the list, and I think that should be about all the liars. De Wolfe, Baggstrom, the steward, the stewardess, Partridge, the crew, all are liars. The doctor is a liar. The whole box and dice all are liars?— Yes.

Thank you. Then there is only one truthful man in the whole show, and that is Cavanagh?—l have said what I saw.

You said that neither you nor Mcintosh got any assistance in going through the bush?— Not while in my company. Then why did you make that bald statement, that no assistance at all was given ?

Mr. Kettle: Did you get any assist ance?—Yes, from the settlers.

Then do you wish to correct your form er evidence?— Yes, to that extent.

Mr. Earl: Now we've got them all liars, officers and crevs, the doctor. Partridge on whisky, even Dunning, the one white man?— Only on points. (Laughter.) On carrying firewood, and on neglect of the women and children.

Mr. Earl: All are liars. There, is one truthful man standing in with a halo round him, and that is Cavanagh' —I have told the truth. °

At twenty minutes to seven the enquiry was adjourned until 10 a.m. today.

fContinned on page 5.)