THE KIA ORA WRECK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 9 July 1907, Page 2

THE KIA ORA WRECK.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. Ter Press Association.

Auckland, July 8. When the Kia Ora enquiry was resumed, Morris, A.8., who was at the wheel during the first watch, made Hie following voluntary statement: "When I came from Onehunga I was taken to Mr May's office. Prom what Mays Biiirt to me, I unerstood, the mate had confessed he was drunk. I cannot tell the proper words—he said—and also that tlio chief steward had committed perjury and wanted to confess that he served the mate with drink." Mr Mays, counsel representing the Crown, interjected: ''That is absolutely

untrue. If tlic court will give mo the opportunity I will deny it on oath." Pressed to state tlic exact words used l>y Mr Slays, Morris said lie could not ilo so, but repeated what lie had previously said and added: "When Mr Mays said 'No sailor tricks. Tell us all you kuow about it/ I said the mate was not drunk, that lie might have had a couple of glasses in him, but not more." Morris, answering Mr Mays, said lio had not made this statement when previously examined, because it did not octo him till after he had heard Peterson's statement regarding the conversation with Mr Mays. Thomas Partridge, whose log was broken at the time of the wreck, stated that he went on the bridge with Forbes, lhe latter asked De Wolfe to have ft drink. All three went to the saloon and had drinks. De Wolfe did not seem very steady, and witness did not think he was fit to have charge of the ship, as the man in charge of a ship should be perfectly sober.

Witness closely examined to show that he was himself the worse of liquor, and admitted saying, when asked tohave another drink, that he was full. He said he was well looked after subsequent to the wreck. Samuel Campbell Prott, laborer, of Aramoho, Wanganui, who was a passenger by the Kia Ora, expressed the opinion Hint De Wolfe was under the influence of liquor, and said this opinion had generally prevailed among the passengers. Wm. Dunning, a fireman, said DeWolfe was not drunk. There was nothing abnormal about his condition. He had a peculiar walk, however, swaying from time to time.