KIA ORA INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 165, 12 July 1907, Page 2

KIA ORA INQUIRY.

; EURTHEB PROCEEDINGS. The enqniry into the wreck of the s.a. Kia Ora was continued at 2.20 p-m. to-day, before Mir. C. C. Kettle, S.M., and Captains Schofield and Grant, nautical assessors.

The fLrst witnesses called were the captain and second officer of the Muritai, ■who were called as to the alleged drunken ness of Mr. de Wolfe, chief officer of the Muritai, at Raglan, after the wreck.

Captain Hichardk, of' the Muritai, stated that he took the survivors of the Kia Ora from Kawhia to Auckland, calling at Raglan on the way. This was his first visit to Raglan, and iMx. de Wolfe was with him on the bridge crossing the bar. He arrived at Raglan β-t 6.2Q ji-m. on June 17. Mr. de JWolfe -was then quite sober and had nothing to drink on board. He had a packet license* About 5.30 pjn. de Wolfe went ashore at Raglan, and between 9.30 and 10 p.m. came aboard again. De Wolfe, who was then sober, came into witness's room. He could detect no sign of drink on - him. He had no liquor of any kind abbard. At one o'clock when the Muritai leit Raglan de Wolfe went aboard and practically acted as pilot- From 1 to 1 de Wolfe was asleep in Witness's cabin.

By Mr. Mays: If de Wolfe had had any liquor, witness may have smelt It, but he detected none. He would not credit that de Wolfe had had liquor that ni|ht. As far as he could judge, de Wolfe had had no drink that night. Ihere was no conversation that night as to how the vessel had got ashore, and de Wolfe expressed no .opinion except that Captain Blackiock'6 death was greatly to be regretted: De Wolfe offered no explanation as to how the vessel got off her course, nor did witness ask wiiy.

Richard Hopkins, second officer of the Muritai, corroborated the evidence oi Captain Richards.