DESTRUCTIVE SEAMAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1924, Page 1

DESTRUCTIVE SEAMAN.

11AY(it' IN l lIINK'I-; SHOP. II M.S. DIN E DIN AT TUT. dm- of Hie l.tiisl disgrni eful incidents a-so; iati-d vilh t!i- pre.-eitee of any vi ,ii jn" i i-'-ct in l-iii v. all I ' oirurti- i mi Salurd, tv. Augn-t 2. at l.aiitakil v, bile 11.M.5. Dunedin "as visiting llmt 1m I ("l ites the Suva eerrespomlI the “Nr" /.calami lleiald.'.l l! sm.-uis that one of a party of seaman on shore lente "Idle in a eoiitewhat meny nico.l called al the ( hinese ..tore o-l Sail" l.ec and ( a. While he v.a s "Mini; oiii one of the ( hinese made soiin ,r ' remark "hi Ii diii-c-I the others i ) hiimli in a sneering manner. The -ailor was ",,:>ig out quietly enough, tint sin- retu.tr!. < ait-vd fit' anger to 11 a* (* up. and li-- made a ibdi for the door. The ( 'nines - hum have heel) wait in;r. I. c one t ri* d to close the door. This noise.l the sailor and lie smashed in the door. and. : eiz.il." a spade in one |,and. and a cane knife in the other, made a de-ront ml the tormentors, who. without waiting to areiir. iucont iin-nt !y lied. The .sailor limn took .-liar.,-. He wre -ki d Dm | I'emi a ;. Showeasi-s. doors, ■ - 11 j hnaids. all "ere smashed heyiu i; I ie:o"uititm or repair. Store ",lolls e smashed ami destroyed; and

i)oil .-mall guilds iiere (brown out l:, Hie (rul'd "liicli lain gathered, nod which was watching the carnival "ill great a"e and liimh delight. o

At one -tage the sailor threatened to set lire to the stere. v.hiih would have liven a sciimis matter, am! would hale meant Hie destruction < f tin hotel and many stoics ami dwellings One of his mates imerleied and persuaded him not to liie the building l-'oi- ihre" hours pandemonium reigiie: stivrcnie. The man raged all over tin premi-es and slashed and smashed al l e could lay his h:iu"s on. Every now and then he i\euld eniise a .xvranihh among the natives outside h.v tlirowinf out holts ol cloth anil all sorts ol articles.

Eventually the Roiia s oflicers signalled tile Dunedin to come to the rescue. and a hunt's patiol was speedily on the scene. The mail v.as taken in the ship. The damage is assessed al over C'2oo. The Chinese owner has put in it claim to the ship, whiili it is reported has