THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 2775, 25 July 1907, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA

FINDING OF THE COURT. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 23. The Court, in its decision in the Kia Ora inquiry, was unanimous in the opinion that there was no evidence to justify the finding that the compass was out of order, but on the contrary that the evidence, in their opinion, warranted the conclusion that it Vtas in good order. N.o allegation was made against the second officer or any of the other seamen. De Wolfe admitted that he left the bridge for a few minutes, and called the look-out from his post and ordered him to take charge 01 the bridge while he was away, in the Court’s opinion, De Wolfe was not justified in leaving the bridge or in taking the look-out from his post. In doing so he committed a grave breach of duty. The Court thought it highly probable that De Wolfe was off the bridge between 10 p.m. and midnight, much longer than lie was prepared to admit, and that during his absence Morris failed to keep the vessel on tiie course set. That while De Wolfe was on the bridge he did not keep a vigilant watch and see that the vessel was kept on her proper course. The second officer, who relieved De Wolfe at midnight, stated that during his watch the course, north by quarter east, was carefully maintained. The'Court had no reason to doubt the accuracy of his testimony. The Court was of the opinion, after having carefully weighed the conflicting evidence, that De Wolfe was somewhat intoxicated when he

took .over the watch from Captain ; Blackloek at 10 p.m., and it was difficult to find the truth. All the | Court could say was that the evid- ! ence was not sufficiently conclusive and satisfactory to justify them in ' finding Dp \\ olfe did drink mof e liquor on the vessel after she sailed ; the true cause of the vessel s deviation from her course was not demonstrated to the Court’s entire satisfaction, and evidence not being sufficient to justify them in finding that the loss ! I of the vessel was caused by the wrong- ‘ | ful act or default of De Wolfe. The I evidence, however, showed that De j I "olfe had been disrated and later j 1 dismissed for drunkenness. The Act ! | provided that if any certificated offi- j | cer was. from incompetence or mis- ! | conduct, unfit to discharge his duties. ! i the Minister might order an inquiry j in a court of summary jurisdiction. ■ ; which had power to cancel his certi- j I ficate. Alter the report the Minister , might consider it desirable to direct I such an inquiry. j The complaint that the crew oc- | copied the lust positions under the i j shelter had not been established | Some ot tbe passengers complained I that Dr. Wylie did not give due attention to them, but after hearing the doctor s evidence the complaints ] were made, in the Court's opinion. | i under a misapprehension, and were 1 practically withdrawn. The Court ' was satisfied he did everything pis. sible. The Court, ordered the costs ' i of the inquiry to be paid by the 1 1 Northern Steamship Company and De 1 j Wolfe, and forwarded De Wolfe's j certificate to the Minister for M*a vine, i The certificates of the second officer, ; £ Robertson, alia the chief engineer, j Unggstroni, were returned. ; The Court ordered the ousts of the 1 inquiry to be paid by the Northern c Steamship Company, and referred the j master's certificate held by fhomas j If. De Wolfe, to the Minister tor j Marine. The Court returned the c certificates of Messrs James Robert- j son (second officer) and E. L. Ilagg- ! f strom (chief engineer). The Court f wished to express its highest appro- j \ eiation of the services rendered hy ; *

the settlers, and hoped that their services would he suitably recognised and rewarded. Great credit was due to Constable McCarthy and Mr Holmes for the part they took in assisting settlers and afterwards ill searching for the bodies of the drowned. The costs of the inquiry total over £2OO.