WIMMERA INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 6

WIMMERA INQUIRY

THE ADMIRALTY'S INSTRUCTIONS

COLLECTOR OP CUSTOMS' EVIDENCE By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, August 1. The Wiminera inquiry was continued 'this morning, before >lr. E. C. Cutten, S.M.. and Cupttuus Srnitli and M'Arthur, assessors. Thomas Robinson, A.8., said be was on duty at 2 ti.lll. on June 116, and took the wheel at 2.; i.i a.m He received his course as jN. 73 \V., und steered that course until the North Caue was abauu. JJe heard the second mate tell the captain that the .North Cape was six miles oil'. The second officer then gave a. new course, _\. 8J W. Witness was relieved from the wheel nl: -4 a.m. The wind appeared to be getting a lit tlo stronger all the time ho was steering, and there was a. good swell on. When ho was awakened by the crash lie went to the forecastle to sea if all hands were out. All lie knew nt the explosion was that.the vessel sank by the steru, and he noticed somo sickly fumes. Joseph iJnnaghy, A,8., deposed that he took Uie wheel at t a.m. from Itohinson, A.8., who gave the course as X. St Vi'. compass, 'i'he explosion seomed to como from tiie starboard quarter. He heard the chief ot'icur call out. "MinnsJ" and saw him going apparently to call the captain. Then came a. second explosion, perhaps more severe than the first. It brougnt down the wireless r.pparatus. Charles Frederick U'ilsou, second officer, recalled, said that from conversntionu he had had with the captain and other officers, lie believed they wero of opinion that mines were laid between the Three. Kings and Cape .Mario. J'lio courso the Wiuiinera took would tako thein outside/ that locality. He knew the captain thought he was on a safe courso on tho, previous trip when the minesweepers were sighted. The Collector of Customs at Auckland said that on certain dates lit handed to the captain of the Wiminera certain confidential Admiralty instructions, which lie put in. He saw the master on June 24. 1 The latter mentioned thai in an important recent instruction reference was made to an an.etidment of the instructions, and witness asked the master whether he would require a copy of the amendment. The latter ropliod that he did, as the amendment did refer to his ship. The witness reierred to the evidence of the second officer that there was no examination of the c«rgo. This, he said, was quite incorrect. All the cargo was examined. As a case in point, one of the passengers on the Wiminera complained that the examination of his hißwige was too rigid. Mr. M'Veagh: What about sandbags and bales of tow?—"We cannot examine them as carefully as luggage, but no examine them by means of steel prickers. Barrels and drums of liquid cannot well be examined," Continuing, the witness said the examination was conducted on the whjri by officers of the Department, lie had never issued instructions to the shore representatives of lluddart, Parker. At this stage Mr. Jlays said he proposed to call Captain Hall-Thompson, Naval Adviser to the New Zealand Government, and certain nUtters of procedure had better be discussed, as much of the evidence would be ol a oonhdential nature. Mr. M'Veagh: I protest against Uiose natters oeing taken in camera. This is tin open Court, and proceedings would aot bo valid. Mr. Cutten: Even jf it invalidates our • proceedings we will Jiavo to uo what ,ve think light, Mr. M'Veagh. Mr. Mays: I have discussed, that phase ivith Captain Hall-Thompson, and we tave come to the conclusion that even i anybody's certificate were involved, ivliich is not the case, we would follow the course we Lave proposed, it is ob-i-ious that the bulk of thw evidence :annot he given in open Court, hut notwithstanding this, I am going to tender it after the luncheon adjournment. I im going to tell tne Court in your ft'orship'o room, before the Court opens, ivhat we propose to do. I do not propose then to put in any evidence, merely ;o give an outline of our proposed course. Mr. Cutten: Supposing we find we have :o comply with the request of Captain tlall-Tliompson, and by doing so wo nvalidate these proceedings, that would inly affect the caso if we were dealing rith anybody's certificate. Mr. M'Veagh: The Court is liable to irohibition. 'J'he Court is sitting an , pen Court. There can ho no Star ' )haniher proceedings liere. , ( A private conference was held in the lagistrate's room after the luncheon adournment to difiouss the points raised . iy Mr. Mays and Mr. M'Veagh, the lat- , er's contention being that while State j ocuments can he withheld, it must be i 11 or none, and that no middle couroo ( an bo adopted in the direction of dislosiug a portion of a document and ( withholding the balance. ( The inquiry was adjourned. i