WILTSHIRE INQUIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1922, Page 5

WILTSHIRE INQUIRY.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS. CAPTAIN'S REQUEST. By Telegraph.—Prres Aaan.—Copyright. Auckland, June 19. The Wiltshire inquiry opened to-day, before Mr. Cutten, S.M.. and Captains Reid and Fleming (assessors) . Mr. Mays, for the Marine Department, said the only person cited was Captain Hayward. There were three witnesses who could throw a good deal &f light on the navigation aspect and certain important questions of fact, but all these persons were weatherbound on the East Coast. It was desirable that these witnesses should be heard before the captain was called, and he suggested an adjournment till to-morrow. Mr. Mays added that it was commonly supposed that the ship had run two days at least on dead reckoning, but Captain Hayward’s statement .to tb& Collector of Customs removed that idea altogether. He stated that he ascertained his position at mid-day on May 31 for longitude and at 8 a.m. for latitude, and was able to fix his position on of the casualty. That fact, if it were a fact, changed the position from the navigation point . of view. They bad at the last moment to get the best evidence available to establish or refute certain possibilities arising from the fact that he had ascertained his position astronomically 11% hours before the casualty. There was over £750,.000 worth of ship and cargo involved, and 102 lives beside his own were jeopardised. Mr. Meredith, for Captain Hayward, complained that no notification had been given him regarding the witnesses on whose behalf the adjournment was applied for. He asked to be supplied ■with their names. Mr. Mays said there was no precedent for giving this information. The defence was not entitled to know what case the Crown was setting up. As a matter of fact Captain Hayward’s casualty report did not disclose that he had obtained an astronomical sight on May 31, although when he was asked if he had come in on dead reckoning he quite frankly stated that he ontamed sight and the information was written on the paper. He was not prepared to go on to-day, because one of the delayed witnesses was to give evidence on the very foundation of the case. Mr. Meredith said he had no objection to adjournment, as he wished to get 'some of the officers’ books still remaining. on the Wiltshire. The court then adjourned until tomorrow.