A COLONIAL LAD IN MIS TRAVELS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 771, 26 January 1877, Page 4

A COLONIAL LAD IN MIS TRAVELS.

A London contemporay states : At Bow-street Police Court. Inspector Laker, of‘the A Division, said a lad Phi 1 i p’Jon waged IG, hadbeeu brought to the IKing-street Police Station ns being destitute, tit'transpired that he worked his way as a-sailor from New Zealand to New York, from thereto Liverpool,'and then •on s to London. On arrival at the latter porfho went to one of the so-called sailors’ homes, where lie remained threo'weeks. 'ts he had no money they turned him away, and he had wandered about the street until taken into custody. He was desirous of entering the British navy, but one obstacle stood in the way. By the Admiralty Regulations it was necessary that, where anyone under 18 wished to join the navy, a declaration before the Magistrate must be made by his parents or guardians to the effect tlrff they were consenting parties to his so joining In the present case the lad had neither parents nor guardians in England who could sign such a paper, and in consequence the navy would not have him. The lad, who was in Court, told his own story to the magistrate Ho said he was born in New Zealand where he could get ’plenty of work to do, but he thought he would like to “ see the world,” and so went for a sailor. He went about to different ports until ire arrived in London. He went to the ■“home,” and paid 15s, all the money he had, for one week’s board. He was 'taken ill and had to remain two weeks more, for which he was now indebted, and so they would not keep him any longer. When he left New Zealand •he thought he should find work anywhere just as easily as there. He had found his mistake After some further statements, the lad was sent to the workhouse for a few days until the authorities’ had time to make some inquiry into his case.