THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12851, 9 July 1907, Page 7

THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

MAGISTERIAL ENQUIRY

FURTHER EVIDENCE

THE CHIEF OFFICER'S CON-

DITION

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TKLKfJIIAM.) AUCKLAND, July 8. When the Kia Ora enquiry was resumed to-day, Morris, who was at the wheel during tho first watch, made, voluntarily, the following statement : — •Wheu 1 came from Onehunga I was taken into Mr ' Mays'office. From what .Mr Mays said to mc I understood tho mate had confessed he was drunk (1 cannot tell tho proper words he said), ond also that the chief steward lurd committed perjury, and wanted to conicsa that ho served the mat© with drink.

Mr Mays, counsel representing the Crown, interjected, 'That is absolutely untrue. 11 the Court will give tne in opportunity 1 will deny it on oath.''

Pressed to stato tho exact words used by Mr -Mays, Morris said ho could not do so, but repeated what he had previously said. He added: "Then •Mr Mays said, 'No sailor tricks; tell us all you know about it.' 1 6aid the mate wa6 not drunk —that he might havo had a couplo of glas-seo in him, but not more.* « •Morris, answering Mr Mays, said ho had not made this statement when previously examined, because it did not occur to him till after ho had heard Petersons statement regarding tho conversation with Mr Mays.

1 nomas, Partridge, whoso leg was broke!, at tho tiuio of the wreck, stated li© went on tho bridge with Forbes. The latter asked de Wolfe to hive a drink. All threo went into tho saloon and had drinks. De Wolfe did not seem vory steady, and witness did not think ho was fit to have ch..rge of the ship, <is tho man in charge of a ship should bo perfectly fc'OiKT.

Tho witness was closely examined to show V-'t ho was himself th© worse for liquor. Ho admitted saying, when usked to have another drink, that ho was "full." He said ho was well looked after subsequent to the wreck. Samuel Campbell Pratt, labourer, or Aramoho (Wanganui), who was a passenger by the ivia Ora, stated that he saw do Wolfe in the smoking cabin oi the vessel after leaving Waitara. Mr Mays: What was his condition!—I thought he was under tho influence of liquor. On what did you base your opinion r —From the way ho staggered about the cabin.

Was he fit to have charge of the ship?—l dill not think he was. You saw him on the bridge deck after the wreck; what were his movements;-' —He was standing when I first saw him, and he appeared to have a hazy look about him.

Mr Earl: You are the first witness who has said thero was anything wrong with Mr do Wolfe after the wreck; you aro attacking his character in a most vital way, therefore bo careful. What makes you say thero was a hazy look about him? —By the look of his eyes. Mr Karl: At three o'clock in the morning, by the light of a kerosene lamp, would you be surprised to learn that you and other passengers looked a trifle hazy ? —No. Do you know if he carried out his ordera well?—I do not understand ship's orders or sailors' work.

No; yet you have tho cheek to stand tliere and criticise this man's work!*- — Yes.

Continuing, witness said he never heard the cause of the wreck stated or suggested. The pa«songers who went across to Kawhia discussed tho chier officer's condition in going through the bush to Nukuhaka Bay. Witness did not know who started the discussion. It was remarked that de Wolfe was the worso for liquor, the four passengers .agreeing in tho statement. At Kawhia nothing was «iid about the condition of rlie chief officer. Ho diet not wish to make any statement. Mr Kettle: "Why not?—l did not want to hurt his foclings. Did it occur to you that it might have been owing to his condition that this trouble arose ? —1 thought it might have occurred. Yon deliberately kept your mouth shut because you did not wnnt to get de Wolfe into trouble? —Yes. Mr Earl: Why did you open your mouth ? —A policeman camo to mo in Wangnnui and snid that other passengers had mad© statements and askeu mc for one. Did ho give you any indication or what tho other statements were? —None whatever. Mr Mays: The police were specially warned against that. ■ Mr Earl: Did you k*now that charges of drunkenness had been made against de Wolfe?—No. Did tho policeman, or did you, first suggest intoxication.? —He asked mc what condition ho was in. Did the policeman give you to understand that statements had been made against de Wolfe or not?—l don't remember. Witness added that he had mado his ■statement voluntarily, nnd wns perfectly satisfied that de Wolfe was unfit to be iv charge of the ship. William Dunning, fireman, called hy Mr Earl, said that on the evening the vessel left, the chief officer called him nt about 7 p.m., and asked him to call him (de Wolfe) at ;9 p.m., saving lie wns going to turn i in. De Wolfe then went into his cabin. Witness told Hodgson, the firo"*jin on watch from 8 p.m. to midnight, to call the mate, who was quite sober when spcak-in.-j to witness. Mr Kettle: Have yon ever seen him under the influence of liquor?—No, never. Continuing, witness snid de Wolfe had a pertilir-r walk, swaying from side to fide. He saw de Wolfe several time-* a dnv, and could swear there was iiothinc abnormal about his condition. After the ship struck he ainin saw de Wolfe, who wns getting out the boat, ■ui'l bo soe*r>ed ev.-ictly es usual. Other members of the crew were calVd. and said de Wolfe wns «-01-er, ar.d his conduct entirely snti-*firtory.

The enquiry was adjotnliiai till tomorrow.