MELEE ON “WAIPORi”

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1927, Page 4

MELEE ON “WAIPORi”

POLICEALYX HURT. (Ry Telegraph—Per Press Association.) NKAV PLYMOUTH, July 10. There was a disturbace at the Port of Now Plymouth last night which resulted seriously for Constable Parkerson. and may yet be equally serious for the other parties engaged. The (unstable, is nor. in the hospital with an injured log that may prove, after an N-ra.y examination, to he broken.

The ex-cook of the steamer AYaipori will to-morrow be charged with being idle and disorderly, while another man named Burns will he charged with assault.

When the Waipori arrived from Newcastle her cook was discharged and a new cook was secured from Wellington. When the new cook went to his 'bunk last night to fill'll in. lie found f.lio ex-cook—fortified, it is alleged, hy jiqtior—and his 'friend Burns, both of whom occupied the cook’s hunk. Finding the odds overwhelming the new cook approached Captain Gardiner, who ordered the two men out, but they refused to move. The Captain telephoned the police, and Constables Parkinson and Hadler arrived. The latter waifid outside while Parkerson entered the Imnkhouse. The ex-cook left the hunk when ordered, hut Burns said that nobody would move him. Burns attacked Parkerson and kicked him on the leg. After a struggle Burns was handcuffed, hut there was great difficulty in getting him olf the ship, as he fought fiercely. The gangway was away, and the constable was painfully injured. The situation was not devoid of humour. The arrested man lay down on the wharf, hut unfortunately for him he found llmt in wet weather the wharf is charged with electricity in certain parts. The man sprang up without further persuasion, and I heron tier crawled olf the- wharf on all fours. Police reinforeemcnls soon arrived, and both men were taken to the loek-