TO-DAY'S EVIDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 73, 26 March 1926, Page 8

TO-DAY'S EVIDENCE

4By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. At the inquiry into the wreck of the Karu to-day, George Alex. Keith, chief officer, said he only felt one light bump rfhen the Karu was crossing the Wha- ; ngape Bar. The plate which the wit- ; ness Haliday said he had pierced with ; a penknife was a new plate, fitted prior . to the Karu leaving Australia for Auck- ■ land. , Alfred Charles Dunkley, second officer, the next -witness,, in cross-exami-nation, said he did not know why the j yessel did not get safely over the Whangape Bar. The sails were in good condition. ' "A BIT OF A LEAK." Walter Parker, master of tho Ohinc--1 muri, which towed the Karu over the j iWhangape Bar, said ho did not consider the captain of the Karu took any i risk in crossing, and in his opinion to , captain was justified in proceeding to eea. As far as he knew there were no rocks on the bar. Dennis Brown Cochrane, A.B. on the Kara, asked what he_did in the vessel's

engine-room at' Auckland, said he just chipped the boiler, and cleaned tho engine. "Did you put in any nevj plates?"—" No." Counsel: "Now, we want the truth. What did you do?" —"I put in a couple of bolts in the hull, because, there was a bit of a leak. I put a bit of plate in, with a bolt on each side."..