THE BELLINGER CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1792, 17 March 1888, Page 2

THE BELLINGER CASE.

— ♦ Pkr Pbes3 Association".; New Plymouth, March 17. Tt;e Bellinger enquiry was continued yesterday, when the remaining witnesses wero examined. Archia Livingston, a fireman, said that the captain, looking down the skylight to the engine room askod the cause of the vessel bumping, and if the pump? were wrong. Witness said "No. the Bhip 1b gotpg amongst ■■— rooks." The captain said " let her go ahta3." Witness sail that the oaptaln and mate seemed to be quite sober, bat the engineer was boozy* William Donald said that the captain wbb the worse for liquor. The steward said he did not serve the captain with liquor after 2.30 a.m. on Taosday till after they were inslda the Waltara bar, bat the captain could ba drinking m his cabin without his know* ledge. The stewardess said the only liquor she saw the oaptaln drink was soda water, and he could not have bad any other thing without her knowing It, From December to this the engineer had been a teetotaller, all she had served him with being sherry wine. Cameron, habor master, and Sergeant Day, of police, Bald they always considered Captain Benson a sober man. Tbis concluded the evidence and the R.M. Bald he would give judgment at New Plymouth on Monday. Later. Oaptaln Benson has agreed on behalf of the owner of the Bellinger, to lodge £2000 In the Admiralty Court so that the vessel may be released, the amount so placed to abide the lssne of the salvage claim brought by the owner of the tut; through Mr Samuel, aolioltor. The Bellinger, when released, will go to Wellington to ba repaired.