SHIP’S CARGO BROACHED

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1929, Page 8

SHIP’S CARGO BROACHED

FIREMEN BEFORE COURT. CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 3. As a sequel to happenings on board the steamer Raranga on the voyage between Wellington and Lyttelton on Saturday night three firemen from the ship, Dames Reilly, Robert M’Kinney, and Charles Murphy, appeared before Messrs W. T. Foster, J.P, and F. B. Sutton, J.J., at Lyttelton yesterday. They were charged with receiving whisky the property of the Shaw Savill and Albion Company, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. All three accused pleaded guilty. - '• Sergeant Dunlop, who prosecuted stated that the fourth officer reported to' the captain as the Raranga was entering Lyttelton Heads that No. 1 hatch had been disturbed and access to the hold had been gained. The hold contained cases of whisky. Shortly afterwards a search was made of the crew’s quarters by the captain and the police, and four bottles of whisky were recovered. Two enmpty cases which had contained twelve bottles each were found hidden away between ropes and other gear in the fore-epak. Two bottles were found hidden in Reilly’s bed, between the blankets. Thee extent of the pillaging could not be asecer’tained until the vessel completed discharging at Bluff. “ The accused,” added the sergeant, “admitted having received the whisky hut denied having stolen it.” 'The Bench to Reilly: “Have you anything to say in defence?” Reilly: “I’ll leave it at that” M’Kinney stated that he found half a bottle of whisky in his hunk when he came off watch, and he “hogged” into it.

Murphy said he had a go at it too, when he came off watch.

Each of tho accused was fined £5 in default one month’s imprisonment.