The Marine Inquiry.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 23, 20 July 1899, Page 3

The Marine Inquiry.

The Marine Commission still drags along its weary length. ' Mr Allport in his evidence said that Jones' reputation for seamanship was very good, and his hteiqry abilities as good as that of hundreds who hold service certificates. Borne of them signed their names with 'a mark. Had never previously heard of a mate's certificate being dispensed with. By disspensing with the mate's certificate there was no jeopardy to life or property. All that was required was to pass a few • simple sums. - Allman brought the Minister's authority for

dispensing with t,his certificate direct from the (Minister* H. Gully, solicitor, gave evidence as to being present in the Hon. Mr HallJones' room when the latter complained that one of his officers had acted in the matter without due authority. Mr Hall Jones and Mr Glasgow were in the Minister's room when witness arrived, and the former expressed surprise that his officers should act upon the memo, in regard to sitting for examination as a master. When the civil case against Captain Jones came befoie the Court, witness was instructed by the Minister that the evidence given by Mr Allport was incorrect. Mr Horncman (private secretary to Mr Hall-Jones) gave evidence that it was the piactice of the Minister to make memoranda upon envelopes or lon>o sheets of paper. He never knew inch mpmos being used as authority [or official acts. Captain Jones detailed the circumstances of his examination. Captain oilman gave him s >mo papers to work. \fter Captain Edwin went out, witness ?ave Capfciin Allman some papeis he :iad obtained hem Yon Schoen, and ivhich had been prepared by the latter. They wcie signed at Yon Schoen's,but t was not true that Yon Schoen guided witness' hand. Witness asked Yon Schoen if it was a right thing to *ive these papers to the examiner, and Yon Sehosn replied " that will be all right." Witness did not know that ;here was anything out of the ordinary, ["lie bargain between witness and Yon Schoen was that Yon Schoen promised bo get him a certificate for £20. Yon Schoen woiried him day and night to go up for examination. Witness never wanted to go up. He merely wanted a service certificate. Witness had not the answers to Alhnan's questions in his pocket. He faithfully worked at the answers to the papers set by Allman. There was no arrangement between witness and Allman that the latter was to pass witness fora master's certificate. Yon Schoen compiled his seivice list, some items in which were not correct. Yon Schoen told witness to tell Allman that he had done the examination papers himself. Witness did not remember telling Captain Allman " The Premier and Mr HallJones want me to get the ticket," or anything to that effect. Yon Schoen told witness that he could do pretty well as he liked about his examination, and that he knew how to work it. Yon Schoen referred to Allman as a cad. Witness did not know Captain Allman prior to his examination. Some peopla had said that witness had bribed Captain Allman to get him a certificate, but he denied that. When witness saw Mr Hall-Jones he told him he had seen Captain Altaian w the street, and the latter said he was entitled to a certificate. The Ministei said that he would see Allman and asl him if he could get over the difficulty of dispensing with a mate's certificate Captain Allman said that he woulc require an order. The Minister saic that he would see into it. Witness thought he said he would give th< order.