THE TRIUMPH INQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1031, 21 December 1883, Page 2

THE TRIUMPH INQUIRY.

[bt telegraph.] Auckland, To-day. The inquiry into the wreck of the Triumph commenced to day before the Resident Magistrate and Captains Frater and James (assessors). The Crown Prosecutor opened by quoting authority in support of the Court's right to withhold or cancel the certificate of the officers of the ship. He had received instructions to m ke the inquiry as searching as possible, in order that some light might be thrown upon what appeared a most extraordinary and inexplicable occurrence. Mr Hesketh, who appeared for Captain Brotherton, said his client did not seek to excuse himself on any nautical grounds whatever. Ho would take all the bla.ne ou himself. He would not question the fineness of the night nor the fact that he had received the right course from the pilot. Captain Brotherton would explain simply that owing to exhaustion from illness, work and worry he dozed off while standing on the bridge of the vessel, and was re-called to consciousness when it was too late to save the ship. If that explanation would shorten the inquiry he would be glad to have offered it. Commenting on this, the Crown Prosecutor said that if the captain had dozed off, he had witnesses to say that a few moments before the vessel struck they saw him moving about the bridge and that they called to him. He also would like t) know how the captain could account for the fact of the officers engaged on deck not seeing the light or being aware of the danger. He would also call testimony to show that there had been a great deal of jollification before the ship left, in which the officers and saloon passengers took part, and that some of the crew were taken on before the Triumph left, in a state of helpless intoxication. The pilot deposed to taking the captain out of the harbor and giving him two alternative courses, one being a direct course, and the other to go by the east end of Tiritiri. Three friends of the captain left the ship in the pilot boat, one being the captain's cousin. One was rather the worse for liquor. He thought Captain Brotherton was sober enough to take charge of his ship. He might, for all he knew, have had a glass or two of grog. He did see him take a little brandy, but knew nothing beyond that. The Crown prosecutor here commented on the hesitating way in which Pilot Burgess gave his evidence. The pilot continued his evidence, and said the night though dark, was clear, and there was no danger in the way of the safe navigation of the ship. The lighthouse-keeper deposed to seeing the ship run on the rock. The light was then burning brightly, and could see land three miles away.