TAINUI ENQUIRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1919, Page 3

TAINUI ENQUIRY.

»I.PRR PRESS ASSOCIATION. COPYRIGHT.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day The inquiry into tlie loss of the Tainui was continued. John Daniel Miller, a shipwright, detailed the repairs effected during the annual overhaul in March When'finished, the. insulation appeared air-tight, and as good as when first, put in. He did not hear the. crew complain of benzine fumes in their .quarters. Paul Eugene Bean, stationmaster at Lyttelton, gave evidence that the cargo of benzine removed from the Tainui on September 12th was put in trucks and held till the vessel’s return for Timaru. He saw the oil removed in slings from the trucks. Oil dripped from some slings. He did not think the tins from America fit to contain benzine for long journeys. The President of tlie Court, said it was evident the tins were meant for short railway journeys in America, hut he added in reply to a remark of counsel for the Vaccum Oil Company, that the Court’s mind was not yet made up.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. The enquiry was continued: — Herbert Fitzwav, a ship’s officer, gave, evidence that having knowledge of benzine ho would not have proceeded to sea in the Tninui with leaky cases, such as had been seen placed on the vessel. Had ho been mate of the Tainui ho would have rejected some of the cases. It was one of the worst cargoes of- benzine bo had seen.