The Feilding Star. Oroua and Riwitea Counties Gazette. WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1907. , Wholesale Perjury.

Feilding Star, Issue 325, 24 July 1907, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua and Riwitea Counties Gazette. WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1907. , Wholesale Perjury.

The result of the inquiry into the cause of the wreck of the steamer Kia Ora solves a problem which has occupied the minds of a good many who read the contradictory statements made in the course of the inquiry. The proceedings before the Court were of a most exhaustive nature, and no effort was spared to get at the truth of the many versions given of the condition in which the chief officer, who was practically on his trial, was at the time of the wreck. Eight passengers gave evidence to the effect that Mr De Wolffe was not in a fit state to carry out his duties, as he had indulged too much in intoxicating liquor, all the officers and crew swore diametrically opposite evidence on that point, yet the Court found the charge of intoxication proved, and held back the. chief officer's certificate. We have frequently heard it asserted that in a case like this it is impossible to get the ship's company to tell the truth, as they stick together like ! leeches, and that is evidently the conclusion the Court arrived at. The gravaman of the case against the chief officer was that he was drink- | ing between 10 and 12, when he was ' on duty, and the fact that in a 41 mile inn the ship was eight miles off her course goes very far to justify the accusation. We must say that we thoroughly concur with the finding of the Court, which will go a long way to reassure those who "go I down to the sea in ships," foiUf there I is anything worse than officers in charge of a ship who are under the influence of liquor, we have been unable to locate it. It will be interesting to know if any proceedings are to be taken against those who were so regardless of the sacred nature of their oaths, and were willing to go into the witness-box and give j false testimony merely to cover up * the delinquencies of a man whose ; career proved . that he was utterly unlit to, be placed in a position of responsibility.