THE ELINGAMITE INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 10, 13 January 1903, Page 2

THE ELINGAMITE INQUIRY.

FIB PUSS ASSOOIATIOX. Auckland, January 13, Mr Tola, for the Collector, subsaitted it was careless navigation byOaptai* Atwood up to the time of the wreak; that the cmleuaeu might have been nfl.cted on the officer*; that the reckoning was inaccurate, and that the steamer'a speed should have bets) reduced till the position of the vessel'was aacertainab'e. Secondly, that the appliances for life-saving were insufficient, Thirdly, that responsibility rtsted with the engine-room aa to whethsr, on the part of the chief, or on all, there was not prompt oaedienee to orJers On the whole of the circumstances, there was ae reason why th« ship should not have gone a*tara. Oouoisl app.aring for the Captain and engineer* expressed bis diseatitfaction a r . the Crown Prosecutor sot trave ting the evidence indioatinf those par.ioos which he considered implicated individual officers.

An application by Mr Cotter, who appeared for the engineers, far the die* missil of Scot*, the third engineer, frem (be proce.dings at (bis stage, oo the grouid that there was no evidence) against him, was declined, the Magisstating that judgment would be given as a whole, when the interest of 6very officer would be considered. Lawe. Mr Campbell, in concluding his address, «xto 1 d the courageous ooadust of Oaptaia At (wood, and said a review ef the evidence showed no grounds for assuming there had been any negligent or wro-ig r ul act on the part of the captain, whoa* ciuduot wae,-on the caiitnry, deserving of the highest ommeneVion.

Mr Mat tin, in his address, submitted that the fi.-at and second officers did their duty through. They were not on duty at the time of the wreck, but came on d ck and assisted with boits. It had.'not been shown that the ab?eno» of compasses in the boa's contributed m the loss of life.

Mr Haseldeo said that if the b*U had been furnished with computet, 'hey oould have shap d tbttr courei for land, and No. 4 bo it would in all probability have bean w>7rd. Mr Mirtin said no one (Mined to know where they were, or In what direction the lund lay. The Court adjourned till to-morrow.