WILFUL MISCHIEF.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1925, Page 4

WILFUL MISCHIEF.

DOINGS ON AORANGI

AUCKLAND, February 25

It would appear that more went on board the Aorangi during the passage Irani England than one would dream of. An amazing story was told ii the Magistrate’s Court this morning about two stewards who whiled away the time by Hinging quantities of the ship’s cutlery anil general gear out cl* port holes with such reckless abandon that bed the journey lasted a few months, little would have been left.

George Scott (21)) was charged with the theft of a dustpan and broom (value 7s). settee cushion (20s), glass tumbler (7d) and a quantity of cutlery. while Joseph Ollivier was charged that on the high seas lie did damage a wooden drawer valued at 42s mid steal a cushion valued la 20s. All the good * were the property of the Fllioli Steam Ship Go. Roth accused I leaded not guilty. Jane Kennedy, a third (lass passenger, said she had seen Scott take a glass and throw it out of a porthole in the third class dining saloon. (She had also seen him throw plates into the sea in the ftune manner. She remarked about it to accused, who told her that it was till right because “4 hey got a new crate of dishes in evciy pint.” A number of witnesses were then called. One woman said she saw Scott fling a broom and dustpan out of a porthole, while on other occasions she had seen plates consigned to the deep. Scott told this witness that the place was a pig-hole, and received a reply that if he .swept it out properly it would not he.

A third-class waiter testified to observing accused get rid of ship’s gear per medium of a port-hole, while another swore to seeing him put silverware in his pocket. D. N. Miller, steward of the Aorangi, said that 011 the passage out, he began to miss cutlery and silver. He lmd trouble with Scott, who wa.s later disrated, Since Scott and Ollivier had been removed to the third-class theie had been practically no losses. Regarding the charges against Ollivier, Alexander Munroe. second-class steward, said accused asked him lor the keys of his drawer. Witness told him he did not have any. Later he heard a noise and next morning lound the drawer smashed.

Robert Ashby, master-at-arms, said that accused had been interviewed regarding the drawer, anil had admitted taking a spade to lever it open. Tn tin. operations the drawer came apai t. “These fellows are guilty of sabotage.,” said kho Magistrate. “They take a delight- in damgiug other people’s property, and they think it funny. They are really fanatics. Their niNchaef really conics back on tbc heads of flu* workers.

“It’s a very had ease. Qlhviei is sentenced to one months’ imprisonment, and ordered to pay costs. Scott will receive three months’ imprisonment on the first two charges, sentences to lie cumulative. On the others he is convicted and discharged. ’

AOR ANGI’S STEWARDS. AUCKLAND, February 20. A statement appeared in the press that many stewards on the Aorangi were not competent. The stewards, as a protest, refused to serve dinner yesterday. Captain Crawford undertook that a modifying statement would be published. He states the whole of the stewards are a competent lot, which is confirmed by a number of passengers.