The Wairarapa Enquiry.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume II, Issue 230, 21 November 1894, Page 3

The Wairarapa Enquiry.

By Telegraph.—Press Association

Dunedin, This Day. Mr James Mills, General Manager of the Union Company, was examined today, and said tho Company threw on the Captain tho whole responsibility of enforcing the officers’ regulations, while the Marine Superintendents were responsible for tho captains doing their duty. Regulation twenty-four provided that the lead should bo used on the coast in foggy weather and the ship's head turned and soundings taken at the slightest doubt and progress stayed until tho exact position was ascertained. The captains reported to the Marine Superintendent at the end of eacli voyage and discussed with him all matters of interest occurring on the passage. In all breaches of the regulations witness held a formal enquiry. So far as he knew there was rarely any cause to enquire into the conduct of captains in foggy weather. They heard of fogs from masters in the ordinary way. Explanations were accepted and no questions asked. When there was no casualty the captain was dealt with at the discretion of the directors. They had instance when in the last six months one of the coasting steamers during thick squally weather was found to be oo close to land and the | Captain was reprimanded. Witness said had the Wairarapa arrived safely on tho last trip the Captain would have reported tho log, and an explanation would have been demanded as to driving tho ship full speed through the fog. The probable result would have been that he would have been cautioned. Tho Company regarded Captain Mclntosh as an exceedingly careful officer. Passengers, he said, frequently complained of delay and over-oaution on the part of masters. He gave an emphatic denial to the statement that gratuities were awarded to masters to establish records. The only once that was done was when the master and chief engineer of the Mararoa were awarded £2O each for doing 1G knots when Huddarfc-Parker’s large steamer was in the trade. The captains receive half-yearly bonuses for safe navi, gation. These amounted to £I6OO or £I7OO. No captain was ever reprimanded for taking precautions in fog. Auckland, This Day. The evidence called by the Crown in the enquiry was finished yesterday. Mr Cotter will examine the officers on their own behalf. Mr Northcroft said the Bench were quite satisfied about the paper on which so much stress was laid the previous day. Moyos, recalled, said he could not swim, and was first mate of the Hurenui when in collision with the Waitara in the English Channel, and was commended by the bench for his behaviour on that occasion. At tho boat inspection on the Wairarapa the Government inspector credited them with tho quickest work in. the Union Company’s fleet. Every effort was made to get the boats out at the wreck. The Captain’s boat was rushed only after she was in the water. Witness gave up his life belt to a lady and held her baby while she put the belt on, and then the sea washed all three along the alley way, and he never saw them again. He himself was that far gone that he could not get up the ladder to the Captain’s cabin, and had to lio down on the hurricane deck to get breath, and then crawled to the bridge. Moyos further said he and Middlobrook pulled Miss McKellar out of the water and put her in the riggings. Ho did not go into the crosstrees until after the 4ne was got ashore, and Miss Fhavall was Arowned in the meantime. Ho had done all he could to get a lino across, and the passengers ashore. lie eventually went up the rigging because physically exhausted and unable to stay longer in tho water at the foot of tho rigging. He got ashore and was cut and bruised ami exhausted. He had no clothing or boots. After lie got some clothing the purser made a lot of signals out of life buoys and made every effort to communicate with Auckland, but it was blowing too hard.