THE KIA ORA WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 5 July 1907, Page 2

THE KIA ORA WRECK.

♦ : '," THE CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS, FURTHER ALLEGATIONS. ' HEMAKKABLE EVIDENCE EXPECTED. ffer Press Association. ' " „ . . . Auckland, July 4. i lie inquiry into the wreck of the Kla Ora on June 13 was continued this af. ternoon before Mr C. C. Kettle, 8.M., Schofleld Captaillß Jolm Grftnt Mil The nature of the evidence given yesterday resulted in the attendance of a large number of people in Court Before the hearing of evidence was resumed Mr Mays, solicitor for the Marine Department, said that passenser witnesses complained of annoyance from the ships crew while sitting in the pig. sages. Ho asked that they be allowed to use the justices'- room downstairs. Mr Kettle: If there is any interference o v. m *£ n^ 1 wiil soon P ut a »'OP to it. Basil D. B. Hudson, flaxaiill contractor it-liaglaii. a passenger by the Kia Ora; mid tJiat when at O.iO De Wolfe came o collect his tickets, De Wolfe wos under the influence of liquor, and witness - remarked this to the other passengers. ■ Witness went to sleep dieetly after, and did not wake up till the ship struck. The weather was then clear. Ho swam from the ship to the boat. He. knew De Wolfe well, and was not mistaken as to his condition. In the boat De Wolfe more than once said, "I don't know where I a.m. When they got ashore, Barraclougb, Lash, Pratt and witness set out to get assistance. Baggstrom and Do Wolfe had left half an hour ahead. .When about three miles on the journey they met the chief ofßcer and Baggstrom, Witness had no boots at all, and one had only one, and they were covered in mud. Boggstrom 'said: "We have some very sad news to tell you. The Kia Ora fa wrecked" and they did not recognise them on the lieach. Everybody waß left to shift for themselves. There was no discinlinft.

Frank Fletcher Barraclough, butcher, residing at Hawera, was a passenger from Waitara to Kawhia. Just before

crossing the bar De Wolfe called him from the deck to the saloon, and asked for his ticket. De Wolfe was then drunk. Mr Mays: At what stage of drunkenness ? Witness: In a muddled state. Mr Mays: Could you detect liquor on him? " Witness: I could smell it. Mr Mays: Was he or was he not fit to take charge of the ship? Witness: He was not. Other passengers gave corroborative evidence.

The crew's side of the case was given by Hugh Lister, second engineer, who said the chief officer had no liquor on' board as far as he was aware. It was false that after landing the crew took possession of the shelter and left some of the women out in the rain.

David Forbes, A.8., re-called, said when the vessel struck it was impossible to see anything for fog. There was no liquor among the crew, and there was no, truth in the statement that men took shelter and left wpmen outside.

The inquiry was adjourned till tomorrow, when further remarkable evidence is expected.