THE GUN COTTON EXPLOSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8539, 13 April 1891, Page 5

THE GUN COTTON EXPLOSION.

CORONER'S ENQUIRY. UNSEEMLY WRANGLING. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS association.] Wellington, Saturday. Further evidence was taken to-day ab the inquest on the victims of the Shelly Bay explosion. Sergeant-Major Gunn, late of the Royal Engineers, now stationed at Auckland as submarine mining instructor, said he never saw or heard of ashes being used in filling primers. He considered it extremely dangerous to solder on the lid of a primer. An order ito do such a thing would not be proper. A man in the service would bo justified in taking some action if he was ordered to do such a dangerous work. At this stage an adjournment was made to a tinsmith's shop, where several experiments were conducted in tho presence of the jury. At 2.30 the coroner and jury proceeded to Shelly Bay in the Ellen Ballance, and took the evidence of Cornwall, after which the inquest was adjourned to Tuesday. Cornwall's evidence was very much the same as that already adduced. He deposed that oldie took tho canisters into tho smithy, and filled on the top ashes from the forgo, in which thero was fire. Witness thought it was rather risky, but did not say anything. During the morning a heated discussion took place between the coroner and Mr. Jellicoe, in consequence of the latter making some remark which was considered to be insulting to the Court. His Worship complained that both yesterday and to-day Mr. Jellicoe had unnecessarily interrupted business by making remarks which were both ungentlemanly and discourteous. Mr. Jellicoe denied that he had been guilty of unbecoming language, and accused His Worship of having behaved unfairly towards him some time ago. Tho coroner asked him to take him (Mr. Robinson) into his confidence with reference to evidence ho was going to call. He (Mr. Jellicoe) accordingly gave the coroner the names of witnesses he wished to call, and his Worship violated that confidence by telling the public ho knew who the witnesses were to be. The Coroner : 1 have done nothing of tho kind, and I shall decline to discuss tlio matter with you, or waste any further time. Mr. Jellicoe : Your Worship knows that you gave the names of my witnesses to the Government. I say your Worship violated the confidence I reposed in you. The Coroner: It comes to this, Mr. Jellicoe, that if the .inquiry is nob to be conducted in a becoming manner, it is best that you should retire. Mr. Jellicoe : I have only been doing my duty, and I intend to continue to do so. The Coroner : Throughout this inquiry I have been extremely careful to show you an amount of forbearance which is not often extended by occupants of the Bench to gentlemen practising before them. The only reason why I have not more frequently interfered with you is because I have not wished to put difficulties in the way. Mr. Jellicoe said that His Worship had not required Mr. Gully to give the names of the witnesses for the Crown. It was, .ho thought, apparent that the Coroner had violated the confidence which he (Mr. Jellicoe) had reposed in him. The Coroner observed that Mr. Jellicoe was persistently adopting a tone which sorely tried his (Mr. Robinson's) nerves and temper. ____________