MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.

„„ Wellington, Sept. 27. inquiry into the. jinking of the I ort Kembla opened to-day before Mr Riddell, S.M.. Dr. Maclaurin rGovern-mo-it Analyst), and. Captain Neville. Mr Macassey, counsel for the Marine Department, in opening, said there was no doubt abo\it the vessel's having been sunk by an internal explosion, but he did not propose to show how or ■yv whom the bomb was placed en board rJint was a matter for the police. Captain Jack narrated the details of the sinking, .md said his instructions vto'come to Wellington were secret, and he did not think any of the crew were aware of-• them. Great .precautions were tair^n mi loading the vessel. There was a military e;uard on the wharf and on the shin, and no one was allowed on board without a pass. The labourers were searched, and everybody's bags and parcels were examined. Every opening on deck into which anything ■could be dropped was covered by wire .^auze.. The explosives m-ust have gone on board in the vcargo. The ship was I'iaded by free labour and members of .the crew.

. The first and second officer sj testified that the explosion was manifestly internal. It was not so violent as it would have been if the vessel had struck a mine or boon hit by a. torpedo. Part of -the fore hatch was blown off.

Second Officer Churtou said the fumes after the explpsion were very dark, with an acrid taste that made him sick after he was in the boat. Chief-Engineer Watt, who was on the Port Adelaide when she was torpedoed, and-other members of the crew who had been in torpedoed ships, declared that this explosion occurred internally. Gunner Renneberg said the ammunition was stored in" a special chamber aft.