“ I found on the piece of chain recovered an opening in the weld in one of the links sufficiently large to admit the blade of a small pen knife I saw no other defect I do not consider the weather was bad enough for a second anchor to be down thinking the first chain fit to hold the ship It is a matter of opinion as to a second anchor being down, it would have helped had there been 2 anchors down & 90 fathoms on each in each case there would have been danger in fouling and also difficulty in recovering. ”

“ I am chief mate of the 'Geffrard' Sunday 13th 1875 5 a.m. Calm with a heavy swell from the North 6 a.m.; breeze sprung up from the N.E & reeled round to north & commenced to freshen put riding tackle on the chain 10 a.m. blew a perfect gale with rain squalls Barometer 29.80 and falling. Noon ditto weather heavy sea running ship taking seas over all. ”

“ The afternoon of the day the ship came ashore was very stormy In the afternoon the wind was N.E. with heavy squalls. The ship was 23 years old that been recently slipped an newly coppered at Port Adelaide (illegible text) more than fomare? ”