THE MANUKAU PILOT-STATION OFFICIAL INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2489, 17 January 1872, Page 3

THE MANUKAU PILOT-STATION OFFICIAL INQUIRY.

AN inquiry was hc!d at. the Court-hnuse, Onehunga, before Captain Chief Harbour-master, and John Sheehai;, Esq. (of the Provincial Kxecutive), into certain charges made against Captain Wing, the Pilot and Harbourmaster at. the M.mukan, bv Henry JetKires, la!e a biatmau in the pilot. - boat,. —Henry Jeir.tres eiated : For about three weeks previous to Christina-* last I was in the pilot. service, when I was discharged. I wrote a letter to the Eciitofj tffar. During the time 1 was in th" employ of the Government, the only work I did for the Government. wa« to take some fljmr down to the p'lotstition. .During the rest of my time I drew Witter, dug in the garden, an*! went, twice to -Mangere for shells, all for Captain Wing. Captain Wing did not order ino personally to do this work, but 1 had a message which purported te come from Captain Wing. and he saw me at work in his garden. Another 1 oatman named Skinner assisted with the shells, and was also cutting docks in an enclosure of Captain Wing's. The other boatman, a Maori, was away on a holiday. Captain Wind's son keep# a s'.ore at the Heads. M e made two trips with flour to his store, and a third time with some miscellaneous articled. I do not know that there was any other reason for the trip except to carry t.h«-se goods. During the time we were ai, th" Heads on these trips we were engaged in discharging the cargo, and receiving a return em go of gum, which, 1 believe, belonged to Captain Wing'd son. The coxswain was packing the gum down to the beach, and 1 was receiving it and stowing the boat. We brought this gum to Onehunga. and delivered it to ilr. Parnell. Mr. C. Wing's store is situated at the old pilotstat ion on the North Head. If our services had been required in consequence of a vessel arriving, we could have done the duty equally well from either of the Heads. Captain Win" was there the whole time. In mv opinion, the boat while lying at the North Head, was in great danger, and on the first occasion she was only saved from being a wreck by one of the boatmen (a Maori), rushing into the water. The whole of the crew were at the North Head, and were variously employed in picking and' bagging gum. Francis Conway, whose place I Tilled, told me lie was discharge.! fi\>m iiie service for refusing to pick potatoes from Captain Wing's coxswa n,fin I up to the time I had sent, the letter to the £7i<r Conway told me he had not been paid. 1 did not complain to Captain Wing about the work we were pat to, nor did the other men, to my knowledge, but the}* often grumbled. With regard to my accusations about the buoys, I can prove that the pilot crew did the greater part of the work. I have no knowledge that Captain Wing received part of the money from this contract, but from my knowledge of Captain Wing X do 7iot. think he would hare uone the work he did at the buoys witront some payment. The men who were employed at the buoys did not receive any extra pay. I cannot name any person who can inform the Government as to the receipt of part of this contract money by Captain Wing. 1 am not an able seaman, nor a iirst-class boatmrvu, but suiHciently competent for this service. The boat in whicli the shells were carried was not a Government boat.—ln answer to Captain Wing, the witness staled: Whon I was engaged for the boat I said I could pull a boat as well as anv man. We were towed down on the iirst trip by a steamer, when we were cist off. I do not recollect you finding fault with my pulling. On that tr'p we took Hour for the signalman, which we landed on the beach. We stayed that night nt the Blow-hole. On the following morning we went across to the North Head, where we landed some few tjoods at your son's store; we tlnm filled s.nne bag* witli ballast for the pilot boat, and then left for Onehunga. I do not remember going to the Heat Is to take soundings of the Fanny Channel, nor do i remember fixing landmarks ; in fact 1 am certain ! did not (io so. We were employed a few hours making steps to gel, up the sand-hid to the "Signal-station. 1 did not complain to you of want of food ; you never told me to go to the signalman and get gome brea i and meat. I recolicct seeing you on the track in the afternoon ; I wa- eating a piece of broad. You never asked me to dig in your garden, but Mrs. Wmg did. 1 was it. \vor'.< on one occasion aoout half a day. 1 myself saw that the boat was in danger, as I mentioned. I was not in bed a: the time. You did not tell me that we were wailing at (lie Heads for tiio weather to moderate, s > as to go out on the bar and take soundings. You once told me to look out for some ll mr from your soil.— In answer to Captain Burgess, witness «?nid : Captain Wing dismissed me from the boat, assigning no reason. Dining the time 1 was in I ho boat there were no vessels arriving or departing requiring our serviced. Captain Wing did not see me digging, bat he did see me spreading shells and drawing water. — Krancis Conway stated : I am a liivman. i was in the pdoL service for about three months. I have been discharged six week-; since. I wrote a letter to the S!,:r. lhe letter publish-.-d on the -It ti J anieiry, ati'.l 6!g:;ed 11 i-'rancis Conway," 13 not. mine. The only letter I wrote was one cjiitiMiliciins the one published in my name, which did not appear ; and 1 know nothing whatever about, the letter that was printed in my name. Jefl'ires had linked me to write a letter, but 1 refused. I was discharged from Iho boat for being drunk, not (or refusing to piek potatoes. 1 was f tin; potato"* at. the lime. I do not. kno.v who toe potatoes belonged to, nor do 1 know w acre they were taken. While in the service 1 was employed going up and down the viv L -r painting buoys, and on the new pilot-boat finishi n;; it. i was never called on to do any but G-overntnent work. I have cut Jircwood nt Cap Lain Wing's house once. Captain Wing's son one<: went down in the boit with us. There were some (roods 011 bjard. I do not know who they belong-d io. Homo were landed at t.he North Head and some at the South. I do not. know where those landed ut tinNorth Jiead went to. I was partly employed laying down buoys at, the Heads. The boat was kept in the Tllow-hole. The boat was always taken proper charge of. It is not eorreet that i was kept out of mv wages as stated in the charge. lMy wife got it when .she applied. — Hugh Evans stated : I am coxswain of the Manukau pilot-boat The statements made in a letter published in the Kviiiiui/ Utur are not true by a long way. Jeilares was in the boat three weeks, jle was discharged because he could not pull an oar. Captain Wing's son lent me and the 6ignalrnau some flour, which was returned to him by me. Mr. E. Wing lent me his boat to fetch iny own stores down. I took up some gum as ballast. While waiting at the Heads for weather to go oufsido to take soundings, some of tho men were doing nothing. I and one of the other men employed ourselves putting a few bags or gum on board Mr. E. Wing's boat. No gum was put in the pilot boat. I and Jeilares brought up this boat, to Onohunga. Tho gum went to Parnell's 6tore. I was away from the Heads and the pilot boat, about twenty-five hours on this occasion- I brought back stores for tho pilotstation, but none for the store. There were no goods taken to the pilot-boat except those (the flour) 1 have mentioned. Jefl'ares went up to Onehungi one trip when I remained behind. I did not see tho boat on her return, and do not know if she brought goods. Tho boat was never in any danger while at the North Head ; she was quite as available for duty at either Head. I have been on tho station twenty years. The crew havo not been employed doing private work I did pick potatoes with Jeilares ; they wer< for myself and the signalman. I was noi i employed in helping Mclntyre with hi: • contract for the buoys. I believe three o ■ the crew were nt work with Captain WiiK i about ten weeks at the buoys ; during tha 1 time the boat went down to the Heads nbou t once u. fortnight. No strange vessels nrrivei , during that time. If one had arrived I coul( - have got off to her in a small bout I had e I never saw any gum in the pilot-boat . There were about twelve Backs in Mr. I ~ Wing's boat; she could have carried a fc» more. On our first trip down to the Head when' we were east off by tho steamer Jeffare

tried to pull liia oar, but could not ; lie wa: not competent. —Richard Skinner slated : ] am a boatman in Hie Mtmukau pilot service I remember Jeffares being in the On our first trip to the Heads ire wore towed by « steamer. There was some flour in the boa! belonging to the signalman. Some was landed at the North and some at the South Head. When east o(T by (he steamer, Jeffares pulled a little way as well as he could. I do not. consider him competent. Onee I went up to Captain Wing's house and cut a little firewood, and drew n little water. We were staying at the North Head for some days once, waiting to take soundings. A\ r e had nothing to do. There was tome gum taken down and put, into Mr. li. Wing's bnat. The coxswain and JefFares brought this boat up to Onohunga. A few bags of gum were also put into the pilot boat. Captain Wing and myself, and another of the crew, brought the boat up and landed the gum on tlie wharf. The coxswain and Jeil'ares got up before us. Evans and the Maori helped me to land the gum from the pilot boat. At the time Melntyre had the contract for cleaning the buoys I was at work for him in his cutter. The pilot boat's crew were assisting at. the work the same as we did. I was engaged and paid by Melntyre. The job lasted about 10 weeks. Melntyre employed myself and another man. Three of the pilot's crew were employed. Melntyre was not present on the cutter at the work.— In answer to Captain Burgess : The gum was put in the pilot boat because it was blowing, and we required it for ballast. Mr. K. Wing's boat could have taken it all. This is the only occasion oil which goods were taken in the pilot boat. While at the Heads I was never employed at Mr. ]i. "Wing's store. I did bring over some shells from Matigere for Captain "Wing on two occasions. I took my own dingy. Jefl'ares went with me once. While staying in Onehunga we were employed at times painting three pilot boats, &e. On the iirst occasion of JcfiUres's pulling in the boat Captain Wing found fault with him, and told him he was not competent. —111 answer to Jetiares, wiiness said 1 did not hear Captain Wing say he was not. competent, neither do I recollect Mr. K. Wing saying " the chap is competent." I remember his saving you were willing enough. I saw the coxswain sewing up hags of gum, but did not do any myself. We had no food, and as Mr. I£. Wing was supplying us with food, and we were idle, we thought it no harm to sew up a few bigs.—Penetana, a Maori, stated: I was employed in the pilot, boat during t.ho past year, between Onehunga and the Heads. .My work was to pull in the bjal, <Jcc. I was working at the buoys when Melntyre had the contract for cleaning them, together with Captain Wing and two other men belonging to the pilot bo.it. This job lasted about two niontha. I was paid monthly, only G-overnment money at the same rate I am paid now. There were also two Europeans nt tho work belonging to the rultcr. I remember when the pilot, bout with Jetfares in her went to Captain Wind's son's place, they stayed three days waiting for suitable weather to take soundings. During that stay we worked a little, putting gum on board Edward Wing's boat. There were fourteen bags, three bags were put 011 board the pilot boat. lJrouglit it up to Onehunga, and landed it. The coxswain was present- when we landed the gum. 1 have worked in Captain "Wing's garden and cut firewood, &c., out of "love for Captain Wing." I have never worked at his son's store. Jetfares told me he had written to the newspaper. I never wrote to the newspaper, but I signed my name to a letter now read from the paper. Edward Wing asked me to do so. He interpreted it to me before I signed it. I do noi know the contents of Jeffares's letter. George Vause, a storekeeper at the Onehunga wharf, was angry with me for signing the letter. He snid I hud been pitching into a man who had been taking my part. ( flu* letter signed by this native was contradicting JWlares's statement.) I have been paid my wages regularly without nny stoppages. 1 paid George, who filled my place when sick. Captain Wing lias sent me to tell Jeffares to draw water for him. 1 saw tiie coxswain sewing up bigs of gum. Skinner ;tnd myself were there doing nothing. i :lou't think the boat was in danger at. I lie time that has been stated. T only remember laki-ig (lour to the Heads onee. During (he Lime he was at work at the buoys, Ouptain Wing was the only person giving orders — (This witness gave his statement 111 Maori, whi'.'h was interpreted by Mr. Cr. W. Woon.) —Jotm Lundon stated that Jeflarcs applied to him that morning to attend before this commission, and give Home evidence. Conway called my attention to Jcllares's letter in the -Star, lie told nic " it was very hot, but every word was t rue, and he could prove it, as he also worked in tiie pilot boat." i have heard his statement in C-uirt this day, and was astonished. He told me he was the man who sent me a petition to present to the Provincial Council for an increase of pay.—Martin McMahon stated : I was present :it the conversation t hat pass-ed between Conway mid Captain Lundon, and hear i Conway say that he could prove the truth of the statement* in the letter.--James Melntyre, an engineer, <fcc M Onehunga, stated : My tender for cleaning tlie buoys in the Minukau was accepted. I signed the contract and bond, and carried out the work in terms of the tender. 1 chartered a cutter at £0 per week, and two boatmen, one at £2 and the other at iJGs. We lifted the Imovs under the direction of the Crovernment officer, and tiie work was done according to specification. I was Tiot on board the cutter lifting or replacing the buoys. The crew of the pilot boat, did give a lift and helped at, the work, in return for which I kept them in food. The two men L employed in the cutter were quite sufficient for the work. The pilot, crew who were in attendance on Captain Wing only gave me 1111 occasional lift. When the buoys were brought to Onehunga I turned all my men out. to bring them to my shop. 1 am not awaro that any of the pilot crew did any part "f the work beyond an occasional lift as I have stated. There were twenty-six buoys in all. I am not aware that ttie crew wen; fed at my expense during the whole of this time. I was not present at the lifting or replacing of any of t he buoys. 1 am surprised to hear that the pilot crew were agisting my two men dining the whole time of the contract. I could have completed my contract within the time with the men and appliances 1 had without the help of the pilot crew. 1 had no conversation whatever with Captain Wing about employing the pilot's crow 5 any help given bv them was quite voluntary when they were 111 attendance 011 their officer. I have p aid no money as compensation to any othc* person in carrying out the contract. Captain Wing approved of the vessel, crew, and appliances with which I proposed to carry out the contract. I never saw any of the pilot's crew bring, or assist in bringing, any of the buoys to my forge.—Captain Wing having heard the evidence given to-day, stated, I was bound to see every buoy laid. I also re quired my boat's crew to take soundings occasionally, as some of the buoys had shifted. 1 allowed my crow to give assistance at a pinch, and on one or two occasions they gave the cutter a tjw when the wind was light. I think the cutter and two men, with the tackle provided, were quite sufficient for the work. The pilot went to the Heads many times during the ten weeks this job lusted. My crew did not work as part of the cutter's crew. Only 011 two occasions when going down to the Heads 011 duty have I taken a few things down in my boat. The service did not suffer by this iri any way.— Richard Skinner, recalled, said, the two men employed by Melntyre were quite sufficient for tho work. In saying that the pilot crew worked on board tho cutter, I mean thai they assisted us at the winch. Wo unshackled them ourselves, and could have dom without their help.—ln answer to Mr. Sheelian Jeirarea stated that the letter signed " Franci Conway," published in the Star, was writtei by himself by Cod way's authority. Conwa; did not see the letter till it appeared in print JefTares stating that two witnesses necessar; to substantiate his statements were absent u the Huia, the Commissioners adjourned th inquiry till Tuesday, January 16, at 11 o'eloel —The Commissioners sat again yesterda

according to adjournment, Captain Burgess only being present. The first witness was Charles Norman, who stated he was formerly in the Manukau pilot service. I left it about lost July. I do not know Jeffares. I have seen a letter in the Kter.iii'j Star reflecting on Captain Wing. I believe part of the letter to be true. I refer to the part that refers lo the buoys. Iv as then in the service I was working at the buoys about, three weeks. The contract was not. finished when I left the service. I was at. work lifting the buoys and the moorings. I was working on board the cutter with the contractors men, and by direction of Captain Wing. I was doing what I was told to do. I received no extra piy above my monthly pay except food. I do not know who supplied it. Then; were two natives belonging to the pilot crew working with me. Captain Wing waß als, with us. I was never engaged in taking goods backwards or forwards to the Heads, except to the signalman. 1 was never employed by Captahi Wing about his premises.—ln answer to Henry Jeffares : I was engaged with the natives scraping and cleaning the buoys both in the boat and at Mclntyre's forge. There was no boat engaged with the cutter except the- pilot boat and a small dingy belonging to the cutter, which was only used occasionally.— Jeffares stated that he" had some other "witnessos, who would not attend voluntarily.— The inquiry was then closed.