The Kia Ora Enquiry.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 323, 26 July 1907, Page 2

The Kia Ora Enquiry.

EIKDING OF THE COURT. (By Telegraph ) (Special to the Settler ) Auckland, July 28, 12.17 p.m. The Kia Ora court stated that there Wiis no evidence to justify the Court finding that the compass was out of order. The current was insufficient tj set the vessel in seven miles. The third suggestion was that the offioer and seamen who were responsible for the navigation <\it the ship between 10 p.m. and midnight had neglected their duty, and in consequence the vessel bid wandered from her coarse. It „w<i-5, alleged that Chief Officar Da Wolfe was in a state of intoxication, t hat be did not carefully watch the compass and course, that he was off the bridge for a considerable lime during which period the wrong course was steered. Thera was no allegation midu against the second officer or any other seamen. De Wulfe bad admitted that be lefs the bridge for a few minutes and called the look out man to Cake charge of the bridge while be was away. De Wolfe was not justified in leaving the bridge or taking the look out man from his post. In doing so he had committed a grave breach of duty and violated two clauses of the company’s instructions to captains and officers. Having regard to i the statement made by the witness Morris to Messrs James and Morrison in Auckland after the wreck, it was highly probable th it Da Wolfe was off iibo bridge between 10 p.m. and midnight much longer than he was prepared to admit, and that during bis absence Morris failed to keep the vessel on course set, or that while Da Wolfe was on the bridge he did not keep a vigilant watch and see that the vessel was kept on her proper ejurse. Re gardiug the charge of drunkenness against Da Wolfe, the court was of opinion that he was somewhat intoxicated when he took over the wateb from Captain Blacklock at 10 p.m., but that it was quite possible that Captain Blacklock did not notice bis condition. As to whether De Wolfe drank more liquor aboard the vessel, it was obvious that deliberate perjury had been committed either by Cavanagh or the chief steward. De Wolfe j and Baggstrom. It was difficult to find the truth, and all the court could i say was that the evidence was not suf : ficiently conclusive and satisfactory to justify them in finding that De Wolfe did drink more liquor on the vessel after she sailed. The true cause of the vessel’s deviation had nut been demonstrated to the court's entire satisfaction, the evidence not being sufficient to justify it in finding that che loss of the vessel was caused by the wrongful act or default of De Wolfe’s. The evidence, showed that De Wolfe bad been disrated and afterwards dismissed for drunkenness. The Act provided that if any certificated officar was from incompetency or misconduct unfit to discharge his duties, the Minister might order any enquiry in a Court of Summary Jurisdiction, which had power to cancel his certificate. After the report the Minister might consider it desirable to direct such an enquiry.

Auckland, 12 85 p.m, The court also found that the evidence disclosed no breach of duty between the wreck aud the landing, but after the landing De Wolfe failed to exhibit proper appreciation of his duty and responsibility as chief offioer in not calling the roll and giving orders as to the protection and comfort of the passengers. The complaint that the seamen occupied the best positions under the shelter had not been established. If it were proved that Mrs Cavanagh’s blankets were palled aside by one of the crew it was to be hoped that the person who committed such a cowardly and blackguardly assault on a helpless woman would be brought to justice. The court ordered the costs of the enquiry to be paid by the Northern Company and De Wolfe, and forwarded Da Wolfe’s certificate to the Minister for Marine. The certificates of the second officer and chief engineer were returned.

The report concluded with a warm eulogium of the work of the settlers, especially Messrs Willison Brothers and Lane. These men divided the loads of two pack horses which knocked up, and were it not for Jack Willison’s knowledge of the track the shipwrecked party would never have been reached. Dr C. Campbell Jenkins' kindness and skillful attention earned the appreciation of the survivors. Others who did good work were—Messrs P. Rose, J. Bhaw, Hay look, J. Crotty, D, Holmes and Constable M'Cartby. It was hoped that the services of the settlers would bo suitably recognised and rewarded,