LOSS OF THE WILTSHIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18121, 20 June 1922, Page 5

LOSS OF THE WILTSHIRE

OPENING OF THE INQUIRY. A QUESTION OF EVIDENCE. SIGHTS TAKEN BEFORE DISASTER. The nautical inquiry into the lossl of the Federal Steam Navigation Company's steamer Wiltshire, wrecked o?i Great Barrier Island on the night of May 31, was opened at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, and adjourned until 10.30 a.m. to-day, pending the arrival of three witnesses required by tha Marine Department, who isave been weather-bound on the East Coast. Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., presided, and had with him as nautical Captains £. C. Fleming and W. Iked. Mr. Selwyn Maya appeared on behalf of the Minister for Marine, Mr. R. D. Bagna.ll for the owners of the vessel, and Mr. V. R. Meredith for Captain Hayward, master- of the vessel. . Mr. Maya said that the only person cited was the master, and the questions were the usual Board of Trade questions. There had been no preliminary inquiry, and they consequently had to depend almost entirely on information contained in the casualty report as to the finding. He lequired three witnesses, who were now weather-bound on the East Coast. These men could throw a great deal of light on the matter—on the navigation question and on certain questions of fact. One of these men would possibly reach Auckland that afternoon and the other two on the following day. The responsibility on the master of the vessel was a very grave one, and it was only just to the master that the whole of the Marine Department's case should be placed before the Court before he was called on. Mr. Mays said it was possible that he could ms.ke a certainf amount of progress, and call the thre» absent witnesses later. He preferred to take the other course, and asked for an adjournment until to-day. Two Observations Taken. A good deal of misconception had been cleared away, continued Mr. Maya, as it had been commonly supposed that the Wiltshire, prior to striking the Barrier, had i run for two days on dead reckoning. Captain Hayward had, however, stated in his casualty report that he ascertained his position at mid-day on May 31, getting his longitude at 8 a.m. and latitude at noon. That fact changed the position from the navigation point of view, and they had at the last moment to get the (best evidence available to establish or refute certain possibilities arising from the fact that the captain had ascertained hia position astronomically Hi hours before the casualty. There was over £750,000, represented in the ship and cargo, lost, and 102 lives, besides hia own ? were jeopardised, so that the responsibility of the captain was a very serious one. Objection to Adjournment. Mr. Meredith said the application for an adjournment had taken turn by surprise. He had askod and thought he had a right to know who these absent witnesses were and for what purpose 'iii&f were being called. Captain Hayward had been asked for a complete return and had given all the facts in that return, which had been in the hands of the department for a considerable time i In spite of that he w>s now faced with an adjournment and the calling of evidence, the purport of which was not disclosed. It meant that there would be no opportunity for him to go into the matter when their evidence was given, because his witnesses were seafaring men ,who might be away on other ships. They did not wish to hide anything, but they should have been given notice some days ago. Continuing, counsel asked that the Court direct that he be given the names • of the witnesses and the purpose ior which they were lieing called. Mr. Maya had referred to the value of the ship and to the responsibility of the captain, but he bold that this had no bearing on the case. B merely arose from the fact of wdptain Hayward's eminence in his profession. He had been a auarter of a century at sea and had never, including the war period, met with an accident or lost a life. Mr. Mays said there was no TTecedeufc for giving the information asked for bv counsel for the master. It was an inquiry to put before the Court a report from the master, together with such other evidence as the department thoncht would assist the Court in arriving at the ooncPtions existing at the time of the casualty. Officers' Books Required. Mr. Bagnall said he would not oppoaa the adjournment. The only point in the application affecting the company was that some of the witnesses were sailing for England in a few days; and they might be wanted sifter the absent witnesses were heard. Mr. Cutten: Why cannot we get on a certain distance with the hearing of •the case? , .. Mr. Mays: I want to see one of thess absent witnesses on. a matter whJch affects the very foundation of our case. Mr. Meredith: Ido not want it to be left open to suggestion that theite r« anything we ' want to hide. I merely desire to know what I have to face. Mr. Meredith said that various attempts had been made to get the officers' books from the wreck, but with the heavy s-ea running they had met with no success. He suggested that if the inquiry were adjourned till Wednesday it might. De possible to have these books available, as the sea showed, signs of moderating. The magistrate remarked that tno Court was very anxious to get ahead with the inquiry, but.they did not want to place Captain Hayward at any dis- ' * Mr* Mays intimated that the depart* ! mi's S would last all iylgj. 1 and that would give them an opportmaty ' to eet the officers' books. The inquiry .was accordingly adjourned.