THE VESPER INQUIRY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 66, 18 March 1910, Page 2

THE VESPER INQUIRY.

. . ■" l' • (Continued from Page 5.) W. Stanley Clark, the Vesper's engineer, stated that on the night of. the col lision he Went to bed early, while th« vessel wp.s off Rangitotb Channel, lr i 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 ship was on the rocks '- He Went on deck, and then proceeded 1k s Petersen's cabin, in company with Wills s It took a long time to awaken Petersen c who -was asleep in his bunk. Wher awakened, it was evident that the mast - er was under the influence Of liquor a Witness then noticed that -a -third bi - the rum was gone from the bottle ii i his cabin. Edgar P. GoldsbrO, agent for the & i Vesper, said he issued orders for the boat 1 to proceed with the work of unloading 3 the Kaipara, and on the morning in question sent three bottles of whisky aboard for the crew. As far as the agents were concerned, Wills was master of the ship, representing the owners' interests. Petersen was only.there because it was necessary to carry a certificated master 5 on the boat. Witness knew that Petersen - was a man of intemperate habits. ,' Captain Fleming, Marine Superinten--1 dent, gave formal evidence, and this com- , pleted the inquiry. r