TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1566, 22 December 1883, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

, bum ■ UNITED PRESS. ASSOCIATION. triumph Enquiry. ■''•■ :'."' Auckland, Friday,

The Triumph enquiry commenced to-day. Mr Hesketh appeared for Captain Brotherton. Mr Hesketh, on behalf of the captain, said the latter would not seek to excuse himself on, any grounds whatever. Ho took all the blame on himself, arid Would not question as to the fineness of the night, nor the fact that ho received the right course from the pilot, He would simply explain that owing to exhaustion from illness and work and worry, he dozed while standing on the bridge, and was recalled to consciousness when too late to save the ship. If that explanation would shorten the euquiry, ho would be glad to have offered it. Commenting on this, the Crown Prosecutor said if the captain dozed, off he had witness to say that a few minutes before the vessel struck they saw him moving about the bridge and they called to him. He would also like to know how the captain could account for tho fact of the officers engaged on deck not seeing tho light or being awaro of their danger. He would also call testimony to show' there had been a great deal of jollifications boforo the ship left, in which the officers and saloon pasaengere took part, and some of the crew were taken on board the Triumph in a state of helpless intoxication. Tho pilot deposed taking the captain out of the harbor, and giving him two alternative courses, one being direot, and the other to go by the east of Tiritiri. Ho thought Captain Brotherton was sober enough to take charge of tho ship.