THE KIA ORA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 6, 8 January 1904, Page 2

THE KIA ORA.

MAGISTERIAL tNQI'IHY, Per Press AHSOciation. <;i Shorn k, Jan. 7. The imwris-tcrml iilipiiry concerning the cruise oi' the Ivi'a Ora ami the death of Captain Buckei idge commend d to-day before Mr llarton, S.M., atrd Captain Chris]!, Nautical Assuror. Mr W. ,1. Hawley, Collector of Customs, detailed the clrcutuutamces and calhid the survivor, Geo. Hi in >■ .Soivden, whose evi'dence lioro ./ut the narrative previously, given. • Jn ivpl.v to the Collector he said : —"1 k'new wl.eii I left Auckland [ was going • .'ii to Loudon. When wo left. Auckland we intemdod to go to (IkHi'oru• lirst, hint after leaving (Jisl.orne our intuition was to go to Li-vrdon. When liii'e acchk-nt happellcl 1 was below, mot. twiny well at tlve time. The main boom had como OHW while I was sitting at the til-k-r, and struck me on the heatl. I -did not fiivw Huckcriutgv anything to Lry nml ease his puln. I do rot know wlrelhx-r he took anything out of the mi'licine chest, which was on board. 1 kli'd not ojien his clothes to examine his hi i.ly after death. His ulusL was* oja-ii at thp time, but I saw n<> marks ui«>n it. From ttao time we left Auckland we were on the very best of terms."

Reply iny to the Magistrate witness said he l K «ed Mr Hawlev tell DuckeriUige lie w«iulid not be allowed to leave without the sanction of the authorities. Uuckwidge decided to W O". ai.'d anywhere lie went witness was Willing to 8 0. Witness produced bis mate's certihente, and a copy of ail) agreement niit,h Ruckeridge, |iy wliiie.li w-itne.is was to get one-sixth ol the proceeds of exhibitions, eic. , i "'ff''"'""''!! was stamped, Init Jf The owners of lie yacht were Messrs IlaiUy and .owe. Witness, examined liv Capam Chrisp as 10 why no log J us l^til, suid Iluckeridge Ivtul navigated the vessel until his death.

1 lie inquiry mis adjourned until io-i"oiti)\v for production of decasull'.s papers.