THE WARATAH INQUIRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 933, 20 December 1910, Page 3

THE WARATAH INQUIRY.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. London, Dec. 16. The inquiry into the loss of the Lund liner Waratah, on or about July 27th, 1909, while on the voyage from Durban to Capetown, en route from Australia to England, was continued to-day. Mr J. Dickinson, the Metropolitan Police Magistrate, is presiding over the court, with Admiral Davis, Commander Lyon (of the Naval Reserve), Professor Walch, and Mr J. H. Hallett as assessors.

A letter was read by the owners which informed the builders that Captain Ilbery was convinced that the stability of the Waratah was less than that of the Geelong. Mr Peck, a director of Barclay, Curie and Co., builders of the Waratah, testified that the owners did not complain respecting the vessel’s behaviour on her first voyage. They complained about her inability to be shifted from one dock to another without ballast. He convinced them her stability was equal to the Geelong’s. Captain Clarke, emigration officer, stated that Captain Ilbery, alter the first voyage, had said she was a very satisfactory vessel. His exact words were, “ a very handy ship.” Mr Claude Sawyer testified that the Waratah rolled heavily after leaving Adelaide. Passengers were injured by falling on the deck. The vessel had a jerky roll, and was slow in recovering. He dreamed three times that he saw a man with a long sword, and that the Waratah was struck by a roller and disappeared. This decided him to leave the ship at Durban. He considered she was top-heavy. Mr Bennett, who was third officer on her maiden voyage, said that there was nothing extraordinary in the Waratab’s behaviour. She listed four or five degrees. He left because he was promoted to another vessel.

Mr Laing: Did you ever tell anyone you left because of some forthcoming alterations, which would take two months ? Witness; No.

A lady in the body of the court, as the witness said this, exclaimed: “Yes, yes ! You told me and my husband.’' London, Dec, 17. Admiral Davis sharply crossexamined Mr Peck as to why there were no investigations regarding Captain Ilbery’s complaints. Mr S. J. P. Thearle, Chief Ship Surveyor of Lloyd’s Register, stated that the Waratah was thoroughly well-constructed a strong ship. The voice which contradicted Mr Bennett was that of Mrs Gibbs, mother of a passenger on the Waratah. Her husband afterwards emphatically stated that he understood Mr Bennett to say the Waratah was going to be laid up for two months for alterations. Mr Bennett was recalled, and repeated that the Gibbs were mistaken.

Mr Sawyer, in his evidence, stated that the Waratah took a big list to port on leaving Melbourne. When going through disturbed waters she wobbled a great deal, and then took a list to starboard and remained over a very long time. Once she heeled over, while the witness was on the boat deck, until the water was beneath him. While recovering, the Waratah often gave a peculiar jerk. Several passengers were thrown on to the deck and injured. He had discussed the ship’s roll of 45 degrees with one of the officers, who replied : “ The builders have seen to the roll. It is all right.” Witness said he had heard the third and fourth officers at Adelaide express the opinion that the Waratah was top-heavy. Herbert, a steward, said he left the Waratah because he disliked her rolling, which caused terrific creaking noises. Bask, a seaman, declared the vessel was top-heavy, and was never upright except in fine weather, Herbert stated that he called the engineer’s attention to the movement of the promenade deck. The whole wooden structure moved bodily athwart the ship. Some boltheads broke off, and the woodwork around the saloon door separated from the ironwork to the extent of a couple of inches. THE COFFEE COVE FIND. London, Dec. 17. Reuter’s Capetown correspondent reports that the deck-chair washed ashore at Coffee Cove is inscribed only with the word “ Moir ” and the letters N R.