The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14. 1894. "THE CHIEF OFFICER."

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 118, 14 November 1894, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14. 1894. "THE CHIEF OFFICER."

— ♦ Our readers will hare observed that in the accounts of the sad wreck of the steamer Wairarapa, and the evidence given at the enquiry, the unlucky individual who held tho position of Chief Officer, has come in for moro than his share of unfavourable criticism. Not so much on account of what he did do but for what he did not do. It is also to be noted in this connection that not a single witness, whether seaman or landsman, male- or female, could hint or suggest oven any omitted act which it was possible for him to havo performed which would have tondod to lessen the teinble loss of life. One passenger certainly did make a defi nito charge to the. effect that the al leged delinquent when on the rocks failed to give nnv orders to tho others with bico, to save some oranges which had drifted within their reach. No rnry serious matter this, purely ! To us it appears that a scapeg ;at was wanted and this unlucky mate, who was almost ai invalid, and not long out of the hospital, happened from his defencelessneoß to be the one whom it would be safest to load with the sins of the others. We think it uu fair and unmanly that this injustice should be continued, and we enter our earnest protest against it. We do not know him personally, we do not eveu know him by name, but we sym pathise with him in his trouble, both physical and mental, and hope sincerely that ho will successfully refute the implied charges made against him, charges without form and void cer tainly, but nevertheless crushing to a man of sensitive mind.