THE MOANA ENQUIRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11750, 10 February 1919, Page 4

THE MOANA ENQUIRY.

CPor Press AaflosiatAca.l

Wellington, February 8 The Moana enquiry concluded today. Willie Donovan, assistant Government, analytically examined the balance of 44 dozen of soda supplied to the Moana. He found no trace of cyanide of potassium or oxalic acid in these bottles. Thomas Edward Smith, e steward on the Moana, said he had been about three years on the Moana. He left the vessel in September. He said that he had used cyanide for cleaning brass buttons. He had obtained the cj’aaide from tne cabin, where it had been used by persons who had been fumigating the boat. He believed that all this cyanide was used np eight or nine mouths ago.

The verdict was that death was due to cyanide poisoning. ' There was no evidence to show, that the manufacturers of soda water could be blamed. He was satisfied that every care and precaution had been taken by the manufacturer in the preparation of the soda water.