Wiltshire Enquiry.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1922, Page 3

Wiltshire Enquiry.

[by teleuiiaph—run r liras association]

AUCKLAND, June 20. j The Court of Inquiry into the Wiltshire wreck was resumed this morning. Mr Ala vs (counsel for the Alarme department) in opening said Capt Howard in his casualty return to the D partment stated he got sights and was able to ascertain Ins position astro omicallv on May 31st, the date of wreck His position then was IM>] nautical miles Uay from the point at which the -vessel struck on his working course and from the positions given by Havward it would be found that when the'ship stimuli she was twenty m.Ws out of her course on the west-1 > • poet, and seven miles out in the no - - erly aspect. This was a Urdu,ted > Havward to an exceptional set of t e current wbichju- stud eontended^"that the history of the currents in the vicinity failed to disclose any such exceptional set, and, it was tor Cat> ain to show the circumstam „d conditions winch justify bm contention that an extraordinary set t t • currents carried the ship out ot be. ,

.charts and. said any set of ctment a. ( rather an easterly set and the weather reports from Cuvier Island nnn.ed.atd.> , preceding the wreck were not such as to show any exceptionally h.gh wind that would tend to carry the vessel out of her course, in that respect and welt , not such as likely to cause any excep- . tionally westerly current as was alleged bv Hayward. He (Mr Mays) would also bring evidence by the maste . vessels in the vicnity of Cuvier light | during the time involved, showing the j light was burning continuously and in j good order. Continuing W'hitford said that titty minutes before striking, the steamer would tie about 11 miles from the Croat Barrier. I Mr Mays pointed out that the Captain’s casualty report stated that an exceptionally strong current set t c ship about 20 miles west of her supposed position. „ Witness replied that he had never heard of a strong easterly set in the vicinity cf Cuvier Island. The New Zealand Pilot of 1919 stated.that currents were weak while the Admiralty charts showed theni to he south and east.

Mr Mays said he did not propose to examine this witness fnrtfie- until Captain Hayward was in the box. Ho might then wish to.call Captain Whiteford in rebuttal or to explain the exact position set »p by the master. Mr Meredith asked for an adjournment till the afternoon. It was extremely difficult to hear and follow the courses set out by witness and the estimates of distances. He would therefore like to have- the opportunity of going through them before he eross-ex-pmined. Mr Cutten. S.M. said it was only reasonable fvnd the inquiry was adjourned sue