THE ELINGAMATE ENQUIRY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 76412, 13 January 1903, Page 2

THE ELINGAMATE ENQUIRY.

Per; Press Association. > AUCKLAND,. January 12. Mr Tole, for ,I>he Collector, submitted it was careless navigation by Captain Atwood up to the time of the wreck; that the carelessness might have been reflected on the ■ officers ; that the reckoning w.as inaccurate,* and that the steamer's speed should have been reduced till the position of the vessel was- ascertainable. Secondly, that the appliances for life-saving were insufficient. Thirdly, that responsibility rested with the engine-room as\to whether, on the part of the ohief or on all, there was> not prompt .obedience to orders. On the whole of the circumstances, there was no reason why the ship should not have gone astern. Counsel appearing for the captain and engineers expressed his dissatisfaction at' the C^rown Prosecutor not traversing the evidence indicating, those portions .whioh he considered implicated individual officers. An application by lie Cotter, wiho appeared for, the, engineers, for the, dismissal of Scott, the third engineer, from , the proceedings at this stage, on the ground that there was no evidence against him, was declined, the Magistrtoter stating that judgment .would . be given as a whole, when ' " the interest of every officer would be considered. Mr Campbell, in concluding his address, extolled the courageous conduct of Captain Atwood, and said a review of the- evidence showed no grounds, for assuming there had been any negligent, or wrongful aot_ oa. "the part of the, captain, whose conduct was; on the contrary, deserving of the highest commendation. Mr Martin, in this address, submitted that the first and- second officers did their duty right thitougjh. They * were not on duty at the time of the wreck, but came on 'deck and assisted with boats. It had not been shown that the absence of compasses in the boats contributed to the loss of life. . ' - - ' , Mr Haselden said that if thp bqats had been furnished, compasses, they could have shaped their course for land, and No. 4 boat would in all probability have been saved. '^ Mr Martin said no one seemed to 1 know where they were, or -in , what direction the land lay. . , -..' • ,The Court adjourned till tormor- , .row. •, „,-."