THE MISSING WARATAH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10022, 19 April 1910, Page 5

THE MISSING WARATAH.

A SEAMAN'S WARNING. BOATS ALLEGED TO BE ROTTEN Received April 19, 1 a.m. MELBOURNE, April 18. The evidence taken in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, in connection with, the loss of the steamer Waratah, for forwarding to the Boird o± Trade, is of conflicting character. A seaman who made a voyage in the Waratah, gave evidence that he had been warned by other seamen not to join. When in Adelaide he helped to paint two boats, one of which was so soft and rotten that he could put his hand through the wood at the bottom. The chief officer told them not to step too hard on thß bottoms. They had boat drill once a week and only took the covers off. The Waratah rolled heavily and badly, and there was a difficulty in keeeping an even keel. Another seaman who joined in London utated that when he asked the chief officer for a berth he advised him to.get other work if possible, because the Waratah would be a coffin for somebody some day. Witness declared she rolled badly, especially to the leeward, and had a list the whole of the voyage. A coal trimmer, examined, expressed the belief that the Waratah was top-heavy. He had been told that trimmers in Sydney had refused -to trim her because she was onesided. Other witnesses declared there was nothing unusual about the Waratah, and they had heard the captain and officers express favourable opinions of the vessel's behaviour.

The pilot at Williamstown deposed that when she left on the last voyage she had no list, and did not appear "tender." The captain and officers made no complaints. \ BODIES SEEN FLOATING. CONFIRMATORY EVIDENCE FORTHCOMING. By Telegraph—Press Association. WESTPOKT, Monday. Mr Crowcher, Collector of Customs, has obtained further evidence of statements made by the second engineer of the s.s. Tottenham to three well-known Westport citizens, confirming statements made by Mr Day, ex-second officer of that steamer to the "Westport News" reporter to the effect that the s.s. Tottenham, while off East London, some ten days after the steamer Waratah was reported missing, passed several bodies, -ana pieces of bodies, ( floating on the water. Mr Cowtber is forwarding the evidence to *he Marina Department, which will send it and the evidence previously given by Mr Day, to the Hoar J of' Trade.