DECISION TOMORROW

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 867, 10 January 1930, Page 1

DECISION TOMORROW

INQUIRY INTO LOSS OF MANUKA EVIDENCE OF FISHERMEN Press Association DUNEDIN, Thursday. When the inquiry into the loss of the Manuka was resumed after the luncheon adjournment Mr. Adams staled that on the previous evening he had interviewed two lady passengers who had left the vessel by the first lifeboat, which was damaged in lowering. They told him that they remembered seeing Captain Clark pointing over the side of the ship and shouting out about his books and papers. He had pointed to the place where they were and had enforced on someone below his duty to take care of them. Mr. Hanlon said he was pleased to receive this statement, as it showed that every effort was made to save the papers. The chairman agreed that there was no necessity to call the witnesses in view of the statement made by the Crown Prosecutor. George Dickson said he had been fishing at Tautuku for about two years. There was usually a set northward or north-east. On Sunday, the day before the wreck, he experienced a strong westerly set off Tautuku. It was so strong that he and his mate i had to come away. They had then steamed off Long Point about three miles from shore and had experienced the same set there. They had dropped ! anchor, but the westerly current was | too strong to let the anchor hold. He j had never experienced such a set 1 before when fishing in this locality. To Captain Stringer, witness said that on the day they could not get the anchor down the sea was moderate and there had not been any strong winds at that time. There was a slight roll from the south-east. [ Mr. Hanlon then addressed the ! court and was interrupted during his remarks by Mr. Adams, who said he j could not challenge the evidence regarding the westward set as the set seemed to be established quite clearly. Messr. Hanlon and Adams and Mr. Haggitt, who appeared for the Union Company, stressed the high conduct of the officers and crew in getting the ! passengers into the boats after the vessel struck, all agreeing that their conduct was worthy of the highest traditions of British seamanship. The court intimated that it would give its decision os Saturday.