ELINGAMITE FNQUIRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 717, 13 January 1903, Page 2

ELINGAMITE FNQUIRY.

CAi’TMN AND OFFICERS

s Association.) ALAND, last night

When tlie Magisterial enquiry into the wreck of tlie Elingamitc was rc-•suui'-d this morning after an atl.iouriiincnt extending over the holidays, the addresses r ,f counsel were commenced.

Mr A. J. 'J’ole, appearing for the Collector of Customs, in indicating the points he intended to bring out submitted there was careless navigation by Captain Atwood up to the tune of the wreck, and that carelessness might be reflected on the officers No proper look-out was kept. The log was defective in its reckoning, and therefore inaccurate. There was neglect to take soundings. There were not proper precautions taken when the circumstances of the position of the steamer were considered. The speed of the steamer should have been reduced, and she should have been stopped until the position was ascertainable. Secondly, the appliances for life-saving were insullieient. There was also disregard of the regulations. The boats were inefficiently managed. The ollieers and crew were not ready in an emergency. Thirdly, a responsibility also rested with the engineroom, and the question was whether it was on the chief, or on all. There was not prompt obedience to the order. On the whole of the circumstances, there was no reason why the ship should not have gone astern. Counsel appearing for the captain and engineers expressed dissatisfaction at the Crown Prosecutor in not traversing the evidence, and indicating the portions which he decided implicated individual ollieers.

The application of Mr Cotier, who appeared for the engineers, for the dismissal of Scott, the third engineer, from the proceedings at this stage, on the ground that there was no evidence against him, was declined by the Bench, the Magistrate stating that .judgment would be given as a whole, when the interest of every officer would he considered. Later.—At the El’ingamilc enquiry, in the afternoon, Mr Campbell, in concluding his address, extolled the courageous conduct of Captain Atwood, and said a review of the evidence showed no grounds for assuming that there would he any negligent or wrongful act on the part of the captain, whose conduct was, on the contrary, deserving of the highest commendation. Mr Martin, in his address, submitted that the first and second officers did their duty right through. They were not on duty at I lie time of the wreck, but came on deck and assisted with the boats. It had not been shown that the absence of compasses in the boats contributed to the loss of life.

Mr ITaseldcn said that if the boats had compasses they could have shaped a course for the land, and No. 1 boat would in all probability have been saved. Mr Martin said that No. 1 boat seemed to know where they were—in what direction the land lay. The Court adjourned until tomorrow. ■