THE WRECK OF THE TASMANIA.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9835, 18 September 1897, Page 8

THE WRECK OF THE TASMANIA.

THE NAUTICAL ENQUIRY.

(PRSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, September 17. This afternoon the nautical enquiry ii'»tg the wreck of tho Tasmania, was resumed.

Mr Tole clo3ed the case on behalf of the Marine Department, after putting in t"m evidence of Captain Adams, oi the Dingadee. Mr Campbell called Mr Wilcock, chiel ofticer of the Tasmania, who deposed that he had been on the Tasmania since siiu w ft s launched, and k new all parta of the sl»u well. As to the social hall, statements i{J regard to which wore nuulo by Air Clayton on Wednesday, there was a sliding door on euch side. When theao dours wero shut it waa impossible to see Iromubaftthe Hociiilliall bulkhead to anywhere forward of it, unless one got on top of the deckhouse. There were no swinging doors on the social hall They were all sliding doors. Iα daylight one might see from abaft tho bulk. head »v occasional glimpse over the bows of the ship as sue rose ami fell, but at night it would be impossible to see anything over the bows because thete were three electric lights glaring right into one's eyes. The porch ut the purser's door and the lighthouse oa the forecastle head also would obstruct tho view. Snpposiu« one was standing at the rail opjiosiis the door he would be able to see ahead, but the glare of the side lights would make it, very difficult to see unless one was well above them. Witness was witlu Captain AtcUee till live or six minutes before the captain, left the ship. He aud Captain McGee were the last on board. The captain told witness he had hurt his hand getting his boat, out, but the natui-o of the hurt he could nob say! The captain superintended everything til] he got into his boat and directeu tin; opera' tions in every way till he left the ship. Mr Tolo said nothing of this had been asked Captain McUee. Mi- Campbell—This is in reforeuce to the mast ungracious evideuce giveu by Clayton. Cjvptain McGee is not here, and it seems to be the most remarkable evidence to be allowed to be produced in Court.

Mr Wilcock went on to give evidence as to the captain and him getting iuto their boats. The captain told him theru was % good pkee to land near " Happy Jack's." Mr Tole objected to the evidence being gone over now. Mr Campbell contended ho had a right to it, saying—" Witnesses are ealW uore ' > defame tne captain ; lam calliug this /ifcness on that account."

Mr Tole —My friend has no right to use such language. Wo did not call witnesses to defame the captain. These questions should have been asked Captain McLS'ea, if it was thought that the captain's being disabled was an excuse for the disaster.

Mr Campbell said lie did nob any it was an excuse for the disaster. If tho captain had been here he would have called him. to give evidence. Mr Wilcock said bis own and the captain's boats were in the best of order. The boats once every month at Syduey were rigged with their masta, &c, and were passed uy it Government Surveyor. They were in the same order at the time of fcho wreck as wheu thej wore last passed at Sydney. Cross-examined'by Mr Tole —Mr Wilcook said an ordinary person would not be able to define a light or other object ahead as well as a sailor, whoae eyes were accustomed to it. There was an elcctrio light near the social hall bulkhead, Bft from the rail. Ib would be very difficult for a person to sso distinctly outside or coming out of tho lighted social hall, ut least for a littlo while after coming out. The boats were last inspected two months before tho accident. The oara in his boat were the same as those in the captain's boat, aud he pulled with his all right. There were stretchers in all tho life boats.

The Court then heard tho addresses of counsel for the respective parties. Mr Campbell contended that no negligence had been shown. The independent bearings taken by the captain and chief ■officer gave practically the same position, which wae more to the eastward thau usual, l'iut captain set his usual course, which would have taken him clear of Table Cape. There was, however, an inset afterwards met with to the-westward. This had never beon ex* perienced by Captain MoGee before,* ft nd this was borne out by the captain ot the Hinemoa, who had been on the coast for years, and had never experienced auch a, current. Ah to the survey, he thought it had been within too narrow limits, and ie might have been that had the coulees eteered boen thoroughly searched a rock might have been found. Aβ to the third mate, he had steered the coursee set, and directly he had seen laud had hauled the vessel out, consequently there was no negh* gence on his part. As to what a passenger had said as to eeeing the land near, the look-out and the officer on the bridge could surely be better able to judge than a landsman who had just emerged from a brilliantly-lighted room into darkness. The fact of the engines having been put full speed ahead after the first shock showed that the land must have been at a distance, for it was absurd to sup« poae that (.'apt. MoGee would order the vessel full speed ahead with high land right in front of him. Mr Tole intimated that his address would occupy some hours, and the Court adjourned till to-morrow.,