Loss of the Wimmera.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 August 1918, Page 4

Loss of the Wimmera.

COURT OR INQUIRY. % AUCKLAND, August X The Court resumed this morning.* Thomas Robinson, able seaman on the Wimmcra, said he was on duty at 2 a.m‘. pn Juno 26. Ho had occasion to go aft, and at about 2.35 a.m. took the wheel. Witness remained at the Wheel till 4 a.m. when he was relieved. Some time after he had turned in ho wa» awakened by being thrown,, out of his bunk. At the same time he heard a crash. He hurried on deck and then went back into the forecastle again to see that all were out. All he knew as to the place of the explosion was that the ship sank by the stern. Whilst on deck he noticed some very sickly fumes. By Mr Blomfield: When they &ere getting away in the boat the stern of the Wimmera was awash. Joseph Donaghy, able seaman, on the Wimmera, said he relieved Robertson at 4 a.m., the latter giving a course NB4 W. compass. When the explosion occurred the shock appeared to come from the starboard quarter, aft of No. 4 hatch. He heard the chief officer call out ‘ ‘mines,” and the latter then appeared to go |down and 1 icall the captain. Witness heard a second explosion, perhaps more severe than the first. It brought down the wireless apparatus. The wireless operator was assisting to launch No. 1 boat when the captain took him to the wireless room and asked him if it was possible to send any message. The latter replied that it was impossible as the machine was shattered. Witness was in charge of No 1 boat, and as she moved away the captain called out, "Just stand off a safe distance; you will probably all be back for breakfast," When the explosion occurred witness did not see any column of smoke, fire or water. The vessel was carrying the usual navigation lights C. F. Wilson, second officer of the Wimmera (re-called), said he understood the port of Sydney was closed at night, but he had not heard the

master say anything about the necessity of arriving there at daylight. They had no desire to reach Sydney at sunset on Saturday or at any special time. By Mr. Blomfield: From conversations he had had with the captain and other officers he believed they were of the opinion that the mines were laid between Three Kings and Cape Maria van Diemen. The course they took would take them outside this locality, and he knew the captain thought , he was on a safe course on the previous trip, when the minesweepers were sighted.

The Collector of Customs at land said on certain dates, he handed, to the captain of the Wimmcra certain confidential Admiralty instructions, which 1 he put in. He saw the master on June 24, the day before-he sailed. The latter mentioned an important recent instruction. Reference was made to an amendment of the instructions, and.; witness asked the master .whether he would require a copy of the amendment. The latter replied that he did not, as the amendment did not refer to his ship. Witness referred to the evidence of the second officer, when the latter stated that 'there was noexamination of the cargo. This, he said, was quite incorrect, and all cargo was examined. As a case in point, one' of the passengers on the Wimmera complained that the examination of his luggage was too rigid. Mr McVeagh: But what about sandbags and bales of tow? —We cannot examine them as carefully as the luggage, but we examine them by means

of steel prickers. Barrels and drums of liquid cannot well be examined.

Continuing, witness said the examination was conducted on the wharf by officers of the Department. He had never issued instructions to the shore representatives of the Huddart-Parker • Co. and had never been required to do

At this stage M Mays said he pro* posed to call Captain Hall Thompson, and certain matters of procedure haft!', better be discussed, as much of the evidence would be of a confidential nature*

Mr McYeagh: I protest against these matters being taken in camera. This is an open Court; and the proceedings would not b'e valid.

Mr. Cutten: Even if it., invalidates our proceedings we will- have to do what we think right, Mr McYeagh.

Considerable discussion took place between counsel and the court on this phase of and a private conference was held in the magistrate’s’ room after the luncheon adjournment, to discuss the points raised by Mr Mays, and. Mr McYeagh, th© latter’s contention being that while State documents can bo withheld, it must be all or none, and that no middle course can bo adopted in the direction of disclosing portion of a document and withholding the balance.