Further Evidence.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4876, 14 November 1894, Page 3

Further Evidence.

Auckland, Tuesday. Alfred James French, a Royal marine, and one of the steerage passongers, also gave evidence, Had the port quarter boat been lowered whon it was ready, at least oight or ten women who wore drowned would have been saved. There seomed to bo no one to giva any orders whatever. The chief loss of life occurred after the ship lurched, aud if the passengers had been ordered to take to the rigging moro might have boon saved.

Dr Stewart Hall Harris, whowas also examined, deposed that at tho boat he and his wife wcro waiting for thore was one seaman who apparently did not know how to detach it, and this state of affairs continued until they wore all swopt into the sea. Ho got on a raft with the assistance of a seaman named Greaves. A life-boat took Greaves' off the raft; but thoy had no desiro to tako witness on board until he insisted. On the way ono of the seamen mado an extremely repulsive remark to him. So far as biß knowledge went tho crow wore quite prepared to defend thoraselvos in any possible way to the oxolusion of tbo passengers. Tho proportion of tho crew to tho passengers saved would corroborate,that statement, After the ship struck thero appeared to bo ft total want of discipline. The boats should have been lowered in five minutes. ,Tho stewards and stewardesses did everything they could for tho passengers in giving out and adjusting life-belts In fact he considered thoy sacrificed their lives for the passengers.

Alexander Hana, a saloon passenger, said that nothing more could have been done by the chief officer than was dono while they were on tho rocks. • : .

' , Joseph , Lucas Clarke, second officer, also gave evidence of considerable length, &»d disposed that the captain never consulted with, the officers as to the ship*? course. When witness ctfme on' the bridge again at midnight, .he said to the paptain, " You have no business to go ahead like this! You ought to slow herand

| tarn her round." His reply was, "Go to tho othor side of the deckhand look out for tho Mokohinou light,and turn tho ventilators." The look-out roared out immediately afterwards, I" Breakers ahead," and simultan- | eously the ship struck. . ' The enquiry was adjourned ■ until to-morrow morning,