THE KIA ORA WRECK.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 762, 24 December 1908, Page 2

THE KIA ORA WRECK.

SUllVlVOll'S {STATEMENT DISCREDITED. SEARCH TO BE MADE JFOR BODIES. [PUJI rKiSS& ASSOCIATION.} Auckland, Dec. 23. A marine inquiry into the cireunistanceis of tihe wreck of the J£ia Ora, near Jiawau, was commenced this afternoon. . Mr May, w!ho represented the Ma-n-ine department, said that Gossett, the sole survivor, had told several contradictory stories. The observations of those who have visited the wreck absolutely discredited the story of Gossett. Jjt was a. mass of discrepancies, it was so much so, that it would be extremely difficult to arrive at ihe truth. The vessel should not have been at Xawau at the time Gossefc said that she struck. If the other times were correct this would have to ' be explained away. The story that he and the Fiercys (father and son) had dung to a rock tor seven ihours was entirely discredited by the experience of all who knew the place. The most important thing, however, that Gossett would lhave to explain away, said Mr Mays, was that before he told the pressmen that the captain had been at tilie wheel at the time ithe scow struck, he had told a person that he tGosset) had been at the wheel at the Time, in a certain plaice in the reet they had reason to believe the bodies of the Piexcys and Young were lying, and they proposed to ask for «n adjournment to 'have a thorough search made.