THE DEFENDER INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1918, Page 2

THE DEFENDER INQUIRY.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The inquiry into the destruction by Are of the steamer Defender was resumed. James M'Veay, fireman on the vessel, said ho had been instructed by the captain to fill some rivet-holes in the bulkhead. He could, find only three, and bolted up the two biggest, but not getting a bolt to fit the other, he plugged it with wool. He did not have a lamp. Afterwards he went to work with the engineer right astern, and they had to use a lamp. When taking out the ashes, he noticed they were cold and wet. Captain Dawson, harbor-master, recalled, said that ho was told the Defender had been towed alongside the oilship, and that the fires were ou«. He naturally thought that meant all firesWhile on his way to the Defender, he was told the vessel was afire. Frank Peterson, engineer, said (hat when he left the engine-room, about 10, a light was. still there. He did not anticipate any danger from the uae of a. light. Albert Aucher, master stevedore, expressed the opinion that on the day of the fire the draught on the vessel would be from after to the forecastle. There were distinct explosions. It was inevitable that there would be- some leaky casks in a cargo of petrol. The inquiry closed.