NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9122, 15 April 1908, Page 2

NAUTICAL INQUIRY.

THE WAIRUNA —MOON AH COLLISION. Press Association. Auckland, April 14. At the nautical inquiry into the Wairuna-Moonah collision to-day one witness, referring to the case of the seaman Smith (who was drowned) said that sufficient evidence had not been taken to establish identification* and he was buried like a dog, “Mr Kettle: One would have thought that every fragment of evidence would have been obtained in order to establish the identity of the body. - Was he registered as unknown?

Mr Mays : I believe so. Mr Kettle : Where was buried? Witness: Out way, I think. The Company would have been prepared to give him a decent burial,, too. I saw some sort of a black coffin go out, but unfit to carry the remains of a human being. Even if he were only a sailor it was only fit for a dog. Mr Kettle: The Coroner and the police should have seen to this. Sergeant Ramsay stated that everything had been done that was possible in the circumstances, aud the Coroner was satisfied that sufficient pains had been taken to establish identification.