THE KIAORA IWRECK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2129, 11 July 1907, Page 2

THE KIAORA IWRECK.

THE NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Press Association.

AUCKLAND, yestorday. Cavanagh, cross-examined by Mr. Karl, said ho might have had 14 porter gaffs during tho whole day before tho Kia Ora sailed for Kawhia, and perhaps three whiskies in tho evening. He saw Do Wolfe getting tlireo bottles filled by the chiei steward from a demijohn.—Mr Itarl: Now, listen to this (quoting from Cavanugh’s evidence), “The steward served us” meaning De Wolfe and himself).—-“I won’t swear it. —Mr. Jiarl: You have already sworn it.— Mi-. Kettle: Do vou wish to correct or alter it:-I—l 1 —1 don’t remember swearing that before. I can’t swear the steward was. there, as tho drink was given me bv De Wolfe. —Mr. Karl: Did you have soda or waterr —I can’t swear. —Was anything said? —1 can’t swear. —You lirst saw De Wolfe beckon, and you went over and received the drink and drank it, and no one said a word ?—Witness: That’s about it. (Tja.ilalitor.) •It was a silent drink. (More laughtei.) —Mr. Karl: Is your story about whisky just as true as your story about what happened on the beach ? —Yes, from my point of view.—Wluit do you mean by your point ol view?—l have tohl tho truth, and 1 thoroughly understand the nature of an oath, but I don’t think Baggstrom does. (Laughter.)—And all the officers and men who went into the box and denied these stories are liars?—Yes, in inv opinion they are. —ls there one man of tho whole crew you would call white?—Yes, Dun* ning.—Witness, however, contradicted a portion of fireman Dunning’s evidence, swearing he (Cavanagh) was tho first to carry driftwood. Mr. Earl: Wo have had all tho crew and stewards called liars, now we will liavo the doctor, he is on the list. I suppose?—Witness:' Yes.—Mr.

Karl: Now we have called them all liars, even Partridge and Dunning? —Witness : Only on points—(Laughter) : on firewood—(Laughter)—and neglect of passengers. Captain Attwood, assistant superintendent of the mercantile marine and surveyor of ships, said lie surveyed the Kia Ora on April 16th. and satisfied himself that the re-

quirements of the law had been complied with. William Haynes, second steward, denied that the women and children were left out in the open on the beach. He had heard nothing of a blanket being .removed from a lady passenger. He saw no drunkenness aboard the Kia Ora and no bottles of lieuor taken to the officers cabins. Cavanagh was further cross-exam-ined by Mr. Earl, and then by Mr. Mays, who asked him about the cheque incident. Did you bear any malice against De AVolfe? —No; in fact, he had done mo a good turn by allowing mo to travel down. He did complain to the police about De Wolfe, when he notified them ho had received £8 short change. Mr. Earl talks about vour having 14 porter-gaffs. Can you give us a more accurate estimate? —I may not have had one. I was perfectly sober on the boat. Witness took liis wife under the shelter at a quarter-past 1 on account of a particularly heavy shower of rain. He had had no quarrel with Bagstrom, whom he had found a thorough gentleman. Ho had no grievance against the Northern Company. He saw nobody in the saloon when the bottles were filled with whisky. He_ observed no signs of illness in De AVolfe. Mr- Mays : In what condition were vou after the wreck? —AVell, I had two nasty falls in the boat. I was drawn down with the suction, and swam for an hour with a bag of chaff. Then I was three-quarters of an hour hanging on to the boat and the chaff. I was sick, and could not move my arms from my side. Mr. Mays intimated that he intended to call a witness to state that Morris had given him a different account of the wreck to that he had given in the witness-box Mr. Earl entered a strong protest against any witness being called by the Crown to contradict Morris. Though he was their own witness the'- were dissatisfied with his statements.

Bruce Morrison, bookseller’s assistant, Auckland, said lie knew .the seaman Joseph Morris, having been introduced to him a few nights after the wreck. He met him in Queenstreet. near Wyndliam-street, and a conversation ensued between Morris and James. Morris said they had had an awful time’, that somebody was drunk, and • somebody was off the bridge. Mr. Kettle: Havo you no idea of what the name was? —-I can’t swear it.

Mr. McGregor: Wliat were his exact words?—l have told you as near as I can. He said that the mate —no, I could not swear it was tho mate. Did you ask him how long the officer was off the bridge?—He said about two hours.

. As. De ; Wolfe was- leaving the box after cross-examination this afternoon he said:—“There is one tiling I would like to say and that' is about the clogs. I feel proud I saved them, for I think t hoir lives more honorable and more truthful, and might be .more useful in future than some of flic lives I did save.”

The enquiry was adjourned till Friday afternoon.