THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8479, 5 July 1907, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA

By Telegraph —Press Association.

AUCKLAND, July 4. The enquiry into the wreck of the Kia Ora. on June 13th, was continued, this afternoon, before Mr C. C. Kettle,' S.M., assisted by Captains John Grant and'Schofleld. Before the hearing of evidence was resumed, Mr Mays, solicitor for the Marine Department, said the passenger witnesses complained of the annoyance from the ship's crew while sitting in the passages. He asked that they be allowed to use the Justices' Room downstairs. Mr Kettle: If there is any interference of that sort, I will soon put a stop to it. Basil D. B. Hudson, flaxmill contractor, of Raglan, and a passenger by the Kia Ora, .said that when, at 9.40 o'clock, De Woife came to collect his ticket De Wolfe was under the influence of liquor, and witness remarked this to other passengers. Witness went to sleep directly after, and did not wake until the ship struck. The weather was then clear. He 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 am." When they got ashore Barraclough, Lush, Pratt and witness set out to get assistance. Baggstrom and De Wolfe had left half an hour ahead. When about three miles on their journey, they met the Chief Officer and Baggstrom. Witness had no boots at all, and one of the party had only one, and they were covered with mud. Baggstrom said, "We have some very sad news to tell you; the Kia Ora has been wrecked." They did not recognise them. On the beach everybody was left to shift for themselves. There was no discipline. Frank Fletcher Barraclough. a butcher, residing at Hawera, said he 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: He was 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 that the chief officer had no liquor on board as far as he was aware. It was false to say that after landing the crew took possession of the shelter and left some of the women out m the rain. David Forbes, A.B. (re-called), said that when the vessel struck it was impossible to see anything for the fog. There was no liquor among the ci-ew. There was no truth in the statement that the men took shelter and left the women outside. The enquiry was adjourned till tomorrow, when further remarkable evidence is expected.