D.-No. 1b

ADJOURNED MEETING. Members present : Mr. Harrop, Mr. Ridings, Dr. Pollen, Mr. Rowe. Mr. Daldy (Chairman). Copy of Report read and adopted. The Chairman was directed to bring up the Report this day.

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE MANUKAU HARBOUR COMMITTEE. Tuesday, October 6th, 1863. Present: Captain Daldy, in the Chair; Mr. J. O'Neill, Dr. Pollen, and Mr. Ridings. Captain Wing examined. By Dr. Pollen.] I am Pilot and Harbour-Master of Manukau. I was appointed by Mr. Williamson (Superintendent). Ido not recollect in what year. I was at first paid £150 a year and was also allowed the Pilot fees. This was altered about two years since. The Pilot fees were taken from me, and £50 added to my salary. I complained to Mr. Williamson that my salary was •swallowed up by expenses incurred at Onehunga during my attendance there upon vessels. I was on that account dissatisfied. Ido not recollect the date of Evans' leaving the Station. He left upon leave granted by official letter. I know no reason for his leaving. When he left, his place was filled by my son. I did not apply for the appointment for my son ; but Evans applied for leave to put a substitute in his place during his absence. I approved of the appointment. I should think the Superintendent was aware of the appointment. I sent it to Mr. Williamson, but did not write officially. Evans asked for six weeks' leave of absence. When the time was expired Evans did not return. I did not report this to the Superintendent officially, but I mentioned it in conversation. I did not report Evans absent, because he had written to me to keep the place open for him, and I therefore expected him to return. Q. Did you make any report to the Superintendent between the time of the expiration of Evans's leave and the wreck of the " Orpheus" that he had not returned to his duty 1 A. Ido not recollect that I did. The requirements applied for by me aud not supplied by the Provincial Government wete Marryatt's Signals and the means necessary for launching the life-boat. I had not been in the habit of using flags for signals, except Captain Drury's pennants, as in his directions. I have been in the habit of using an old code of flag signals. I recommended a change of signals—the disuse of flags. I consider flag signals to be useless to ships in the offing ; they are always too much " end on." The plan of a new code of signals was suggested by me to the Provincial Government, and the code was afterwards prepared by me from materials supplied by the Provincial Government. The Government supplied all that was required. I considered the new code to be sufficient at that time. That code of signals was in good working order at the time of the wreck of the " Orpheus." Flags formed no part of that code ; nevertheless at the time the new code was adopted I recommended that Marryatt's Signals should be kept for the purpose of signalling vessels passing the Pilot Station, although they would be of no use in signalling vessels outside. I made this recommendation verbally to Mr. Williamson. Dr. Pollen was present. I never made that recommendation in writing; but when the flags were worn out, I reported that officially in writing to Mr. Williamson, mentioning at the same time that, if I were to be supplied with new signals I would recommend that the new Commercial Code should be supplied. To this report I received no reply. I have a copy of that report. Q. Could the Signal-man have informed you when in the "Wonga Wonga" by means of the new code that there was a vessel on the Bar '? A. He could not. There is no danger signal in that code. There is a signal to a vessel passing to come to anchor. He could have made that signal, but he did not. I know that signal. If he had made it, I could not have compelled the Master to bring his ship to an anchor, nor should I have understood it. There was no appearance of any danger to us on board the " Wonga W ron _." The other requirement not supplied was the ways for launching the life-boat. I made official application for a carpenter and material to construct it. I received no reply. I have four men at the Station besides the Signal-man. The meu are constantly at work when at the Station in improving the place. There is timber at the Station, but some way off. I could not make the ways without assistance. Two or three vessels a month generally came into the Port of Manukau. Piloting those

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THE LOSS OF H.M.S. «ORPHEUS."