THE ACCIDENT TO THE WAIRARAPA. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Thursday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1818, 1 March 1884, Page 2

THE ACCIDENT TO THE WAIRARAPA. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dunedin, Thursday.

The inquiry re the Wairarapa was continued to-day. The principal witness was Mr A. Hill Jack, manager of the National Insurance Company, who was a passenger. He said the Wairar.ipa appeared to be going at ordinary full speed, and continued :— "I was sitting in the music room when the talking and shouting of the passengers on deck caused ma to step outside. I discovered a steamer neai ly abreast of us on the port aide, and the passengers on both steameis were veiy much excited. The steamers were near enough for the passengers of each vessel to hear what was said. The st(-<imen> appioachecl one another several times quite closely, and I noticed fliinos coming out of the funnel of the Adelaide. I judged by our smoke that our steamer was also coaling up, but there was no flame from the funnel. When the collision took place I at first thought there had been an exposion. I heaid nothing about a race going to take place." The Collector of Customs said the e\ idence would be forwarded to the Marine Department at Wellington. Captain Cluth'eld said he did not see the object of the inquiry, as the matter would have to be gone into at Melbourne. Captain Thomson pointed out that the law required that a prchm nary inquiry should take place at the first port at which a vessel arrived after an accident.