“I’LL WRECK HER”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 September 1924, Page 5

“I’LL WRECK HER”

DRUNKEN MAORI’S THREAT. WRESTS WHEEL FROM CAPTAIN. FERRY BOAT INCIDENT. AUCKLAND, Sep. 11. A good deal of excitement prevailed on obard the ferry steamer Ngoiro on the 5.17 voyage down to St. .Helier’s Bay from town last night and as a result two Maoris made their appearance before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., and J. H. Fray, J.P., at the Police Court this morning. Jack Murphy (20), alias Kitto Thompson, alias Tikipene Kitto, pleaded guily to a charge of being disorderly while drunk on board the Ngoiro last night. i

Senior Sergeant Rawle stated that accused, with other Maoris, boarded the steamer at Auckland last night in a more or less drunken condition. For some time past the police had experienced trouble from men on the trips down the Orakei during the evening, and last summer a couple of policemen had to frequently proceed down the harbour on the steamer to preserve law and order. It was most desirous that the comfort of passengers should be looked after. Accused was convicted and fined £2, in default seven days. Another Maori, William Davis (23)j was then charged with being disorderly while drunk on the ferry steamer, using obscene language, and also with obstructing the captain of the Ngoiro whilst in the execution of his duty. Captain Selley, master of the Ngioro, said that accused was one of a party of Maoris who were returning to Orakei last night on the 5.17 trip from town. There was a good deal of noise on the way down. Most of the Maoris left the vessel at Orakei, but accused and Murphy refused to disembark there, although they were advised to by tlieir friends. At Kohimarama wharf the mooring lines were interfered with by accused, and on the way back from St. Helier’s Bay witness informed both accused and Murphy that he would not allow them to land at Orakei owing to their disorderly conduct. Just after leaving the wharf at Orakei accused rushed into the wheelhouse and wrested the wheel from witness. Davis said, “I’ll wreck this ship if you don’t put her back to the wharf.’’ In consequence, witness had to reverse the engines and stop the ship. On arrival at Auckland both men were handed over to the police. Mr. Poynton: We will have to keep a check on Davis. He will he fined T 5 or seven days for obstructing the master, and for using obscene language he will be convicted and ordered to tome up for sentence within twelve months.