INDRABARAH MEN'S "HOLIDAY."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1800, 12 July 1913, Page 14

INDRABARAH MEN'S "HOLIDAY."

HOW THEY USED IT. ; GIVEN AN INCH & TOOK AN ELL * Since tho lately-stranded Tyser steamer ludrabarah arrived in Wellington on Monday last, matters amongst a certain portion of • tlie crew liavo not been running pleasantly. The monotony of being on a stranded hoat for eight weeks, 110 doubt, left its mark on tho men, and this seems to have been realised by tho officers, for, as soon as the vessel had been safely tied up here, the crew were givon "a day oif." It was promptly availed of, but, when Tuesday dawned, a certain portion of tho firemen did not feel" disposed to return to work, and some of them took another "day off." They also rtpeated the performance on Wednesday and Thursday, arid the law was then appealed to. They appeared before tho Court to answer a charge of disobeying the lawful commands of the chief engineer. The offenders' names wcrei John Noonan, Joseph Beck, John Unwin, Richard M'Kenzie, E. Rahlstrom, and Richard Jolniston (all firemen). They all pleaded not guilty. . Mr. Myers, who prosecuted, stated that the six accused wero really guilty of a combination of offences, involving refusal to work, and going on shore without first obtaining leave. Those'in chaTge did not wish to be too hard on the men, so they had only laid one information againbt each man.. They also realised that the men had had an arduous time,, and, in consequence,. they had been given a day off, but they had been abusing tho officers' generosity. The second engineer (Walter Morgan Jackson) stated that tho ship arrived on Monday from tho liangitikci beach. There was a good deal of work to bo done in the engine-room, but the men were nevertheless given tho day off. On Tuesday Johnston refused to work, although he was ordered to do so, and ho went ashore. Ho was also ordered' to work oil Wednesday and Thursday, but refused, Noonan, M'ivenzio, Rahiatrom, Unwin, and Beck also refused to work on Wednesday and Thursday. Beck worked on Tuesday, but took "French leave" on Wednesday. Noonan worked for a while on Tuesday, but got "tired" aud left.' Unwin was reprimanded 'for smoking at work on Tuesday, so he, too, took "French leave." M'lienzie did a little work on Tuesday morning, but later in the day he "downed tools." ' Kahlstrom also worked on Tuesday, but refused to work on Wednesday and Thurs- ' day. Arthur L. Morris, chief engineer, stated that he had warned the inen. on Thursday morning. Although it was not his business to do so, he went down in the forecastle and spoke to them individually, asking them to "turn to" and be men,'as they h'ad-been allowed to have their "iling", Ho also told them that if they did not "turn to" by 2 p;'m., they would be placed under arrest for disobeying command. Accused Unwin (to witness): Did you hear me inciting tho men not to work? Witness: Yes; you yelled to tho men ' to stick to their -union and refuse to work. Accused:' I did not. His Worship admonished tho men and fined each 205., with costs 7s, CpASGE OF GAFFING TROUT. George Fernandos, taxi-cab driver, appeared boforo the Court to answer a charge of using an unsportsman-liko device—to wit a gaff for tho purpose of Batching trout, .without having first caught such trout on.a line. Tho alleged offence was committed at Wainui-o-mata on April 29 last. Mr. Izard appeared fop the defendant, and Mr. T. Neave prosecuted on. behalf of tho Wellington acclimatisation Society. Mr, Neave stated that the principal witness for the prosecution was Mr. Burden, a farmer of Wainui-o-mata, and an honorary ranger for tho society. Mr. Burden saw tho defendant in tho company of onp_ or two other, persons fishing at Wainui-o-mata' on 'April 29. Ho had a pair of field glasses and he.' was able to .watch the defendant who was .in tho stream. He saw defendant hook in quick succession two fish with a gaff, .and throw . them on to the bank. Tho river was very low at the time and the water was very clear. Counsel' maintained, that it was practically impossible to catch fish in a legitimate way under those conditions. ■ Tho witness Burden stated that ho had ordered defendant off the property. Ho found two dead fish lying in water which bore evidence of having been gaffed. Evidence was also given by Frederick Whitley. ' The defence set -up was a denial. On one occasion, however, defendant used the gaff to 'Hand" an eel. Evidence for the. defence was given 'by George Fernandos. The case was adjourned until this morning. . THE RECEIVER. ' A charge of theft of a, quantity of meat, and an enamel dish, valued in all at Bs. Gd„ was preferred against Christian Larson, who pleaded not guilty. .John Atkinson, an employee of the Thorndon Meat and - Poultry Conipany, stated that he left his cart outsido tho Hotel Cecil on July 10, and when, lie returned ho . found tho'meat and dish had been taken; Dotective-Sergoant Rawle gavo evidence to the effect that ho found the meat in . the galley of the s.s. Niwaru 4 and lie arrested the accused, who was a greaser on the vessel. , . The accused," who wa.s represented by Mr. Wilford, denied taking the meat. A mate of his had given it to him to take ' to the ship's galley and liavo it cooked.. Upon'the application 'of'tho police, the charge was amended 'to' ono of receiving certain goods knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Accused pleaded guilty to this cliargo and was fined 20s. OTHER POLICE CASES. Susan M'Laughlin was convicted and discharged for insobriety, but for using certain objectionable language was fined 40s. John Ricliie A. Turner, was deemed 1 to bo a rogue and a vagabond, and was sentenced fo 11 days' imprisonment. •For travelling on s.s. Manuka between Sydney and Wellington, without paying his fare, Anthony Lachenmaior, a foreigner, was fined ,£5. Stanley Naylor was remanded to appear at Masterton to-day on a charge of committing theft of £2 10s., the money of Sydney Reginal Harris. Florence M'Anallv ,wns fined 403., in default seven days' imprisonment, for soliciting. A chargo of working employees in excess of tho hours allowed in tho Shops and Offices Ach, which was preferred against J. Sullivan, licensee of tho Masonic Hotel, was dismissed.