KIA ORA INQUIRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8856, 5 July 1907, Page 2

KIA ORA INQUIRY.

Per Press Association. Auckland, July 4. The inquiry into the wreck of the Kia Ora on June 13 was continued this afternoon before Mr C. C. Kettle, S.M., assisted by Captains John Grant and Schofield. The nature' of the evidence given yesterday resulted in the attendance of a large number of people in Court. Before the hearing of evidence was resumed MiMays, solicitor for the Marine Department, said passenger witnesses complained of annoyance from the ship’s crew while sitting in the passages. Ho asked that they bo allowed to use the Justice's room down stairs.

Mr Kettle : If there is any interference of that sort I will soon put a stop to it. Basil D. B. Hudson, flaxmill contractor, Eaglan, passenger by the Kia Ora, said that when at 9.40 De Wolfe came to collect his ticket Do Wolfe was under the influence of liquor and witness remarked this to other passengers. Witness went to sleep directly after and did not wake till the ship struck. The weather was then clear. Ho swam from the ship to the boat. Ha knew Do Wolfe well, and was not mistaken as to his condition. In the boat Do Wolfe more than once said, “ I don’t know whore lam.” When they get ash ire Barraclough, Lush, Pratt, and witness set out to get assistance. Baggstrom and De Wolfe had loft half an hour ahead. When about three miles on their journey they met the chief officer and Baggstom. “ Two of us,” said witness. “ had no boots at all, and one had only one, and we were covered with mud. Baggstom said, ‘We have some very sad news to tell you. The Kia Ora is wrecked.’ They did not recognise them. On the beach everybody was left to shift for themselves; there was no discipline," Prank Fletcher Barraclough, butcher, residing at Hawera, said he was a passenger from Waitara to Kawhia. Just before crossing the bar De Wolfe called him from the deck to the saloon and asked for his ticket. De Wolfe was then drunk.

Mr Mays : At what state of drunkenness ?—The muddled state.

Could you detect liquor on him?—l could smell it. Was ho or was he not fit to take charge of the ship ?—He was not. Other passengers gave corroborative evidence.

The crew’s side of the case was given by Hugh Lister, second engineer, who said the chief officer had no liquor -on board as far as he was aware. It was false that after landing the crew took possession of the shelter and left some of the women out in the rain.

David Forbes, A. 8., recalled, said that when the vessel struck it was impossible to see anything for the fog. There was no liquor among the crew. There was no truth in the statement that the men took shelter and left the women outside. The inquiry was adjourned till tomorrow, when further remarkable evidence is expected. July 5. At the Kia Ora enquiry to-day, referring to statements hy the Crown solicitor that the Earawa did nothing for the crew, he said he would produce invoices showing that the Northern Company spent £2OO on provisions for the people at Nnkuliaka Bay. Hugh luster, second engineer, said that at two o’clock on the morning of the wreck, the Chief Engineer was perfectly sober. Elias Baggstrom, Chief Engineer, recalled, denied that he went to the saloon to get whisky. Baggstrom denounced the statement as to himself and De Wolfe leaving the saloon with three bottles of whisky as a lie so absurd, unholy and fiendish that he could not express his feelings unless they could have a ring, which would be more to his liking. Although a Swede he learned that art in England. Baggstrom admitted having two drinks with Capt. Blacklock at Waitara, but none after.

In answer to the Magistrate Mr Mays said there was no imputation against the captain cr second officer. Baggs trom said De Wolfe was in full possession of his senses and executed all orders and took the boat clear of the ship.