THE KIA ORA INQUIRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13480, 3 July 1907, Page 8

THE KIA ORA INQUIRY.

" SERIOUS DEVELOPMENTS." "■* A-FURTHER ADJOURNMENT. The inquiry into the circumstances of the wreck of the Northern S.S. Company's 1 steamer Kia Ora was adjourned from last Friday till yesterday morning, to enable the steersman who was on duty at the time of the wrecking of the vessel to be brought wp from Wellington to give evidence. His name is Morris. When the Court sat .yesterday, Air. Selwyil Mays, who appeared for the Collector of Customs, intimated that since the adjournment new and very serious developments had arisen, necessitating a. further adjournment, so that all the witnesses available might have time to reach Auckland. He stated that several passengers ' who were aboard the ill-fated steamer were coming up from Kawhia, Raglan, Eltiiiiin, and Wanganui, and the last of them could not be expected [to arrive before Friday. < One important j suggestion he had to make, however, was that the witness Morris, who would arrive by the Rotoiti this morning, should be brought.straight to' the Court, and his evidence taken without delay. It was most necessary that such a course should be followed, but the other witnesses could all be taken jn a. day to.be settled upon as 'convenient to the Court and to counsel. IHe understood that Mr. McGregor, who represented the Shipmasters' Association, j Oll ■ behalf of the late Captain Blacklock, [would be engaged elsewhere to-day, and ! while he (Mr. Mays) was anxious to make 'the arrangements lit in with his friend's |engagements, it would be altogether inexpedient to delay the taking of Morris' statement. ! Mr. Kettle: Have you communicated | with the two witnesses who telegraphed to me'.' i Mr. Mays: Yes, Your Worship. They will be coming up. Mr. Kettle: Are the assistant-steward and the stewardess available? .Mr. Mays said he could get the assistantsteward at once, while the stewardess would bo available in a couple .of days. Mr. McGregor remarked that he desired to hear Morris' statement, but lie would then be at Warkworth. He suggested that Mr. Mays could get the statement privately, or, as he understood that a. statement had been got from Morris in Wellington, there was hardly any need for the Court to sit to examine the witness. Mr. Mays replied that as the statement was taken in Wellington by a person not familiar with the facts of the case, lie anticipated the details would be meagre, and, rather than take'a private statement, he wanted the Court to hear it. It was then arranged that Air. McGregor would be given an opportunity to read over Morris' depositions, and the Court was adjourned till 10 o'clock this morning, Mr. Kettle advising the officers and other parties to be in attendance.