The Wreck of the Wairarapa.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 123, 20 November 1894, Page 2

The Wreck of the Wairarapa.

THE ENQUIRY. (PER PRE S3 association) Auckland, November 19. At the Wairarapa enquiry, Samuel Allen, captain's steward, deposed that Captain Mcintosh had not been so cheersul since his illness last August. On Sunday the Captain had breakfast, but no other meal. The captain told him to attend to the passengers when the ship struck. Tbe captain was perfectly sober, and he never drank to excess. Witness helped the chief officer, but could not launch the boat. He was directed by Mr Moyes to bring the ladies to the port boats. While doing so, witness and a number were washed overboard. The chief officer, re-called, deposed that six months ago tho Wairarapa experienced a fog on the passage from Dunedin to Lyttelton, and the vessel was anchored twice, and the foghorn, bell, and all other precautions were used. Could not say whether the chairman of the Company was on board on that occasion. On other occasions he had gone from Lyttelton to Dunedin in fog at full speed. j Captain Farquhar, of the Clansman, was examined as to a piece of paper which he saved showing the log of distances run and the courses steered by the ship. Jas. Smith, chief mate of the Clansman, also gave evidence respecting the paper, which at that stage was not produced in Court. A piece of paper was afterwards found, and Cooper said that Johnston, the third officer, would give some explanation next day about the paper, which was the paper spoken of by him in his evidence on his being recalled tbat day. Hansell Harding (trimmer) aud Jas. McDonald (seaman) gave evidence as to lowering the boats, the conduct of the officers, and steps taken to save life, but nothing particularly important was disclosed.

According to the Westport Times, Captain Mcintosh, of the Wairarapa, had ou board a library worth £600.