A TALE OF THE SEA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 100, 28 April 1879, Page 4

A TALE OF THE SEA.

The following is the rfport of a rfcent case in Wellington of which we were advised by felegrßpb: — Seven sailers of the barque Cl-.n Campbell, arrested on warrant, were charged that en ihe 21st instant they did refuse to obey the lewful commands of Peter Ewen, master cf the fluid barqoo. Mr Gordon Allan defended, Tbe sailors were charged ocpamtely, A, Tayor heioer taken first. Cnptsin Ewen deposrd that on the 21st, lhe barque beinp in port, prisoner positively refused to woik, and aek.d for bis discharge. By Mr Allan: When prisoner refused work be conrploined that he bad bppn wrongly used on the voyspe. Witness wanted tbe men to set fo woik, and promised thero thfir discharge in ten days. Tho sailors had not /rrquently complained of the flour supplied to them being full of tbe exent . of rats and other dirf. They had complained of the qualify of tbe potatoes supplied to ihem. They bad also comp'sined about (be water. Witness hr.d givrn them potatoes and pease inst. ud of floor on occasions. He had told fhem that "if he w*>re going to Africa be would slop it out of them, but bb ha tvbb going to Wellington be wouid beve (o be more careful." He did this because tbere was a Magistrate in Wel lington, bot no such functionary in Africa. The bands bad complained they were all ill from eating bad potatoes. Tbey got flour foar times » week. He was not bound to give them any water to wash in. Had the ptssage listed a month longer the. wafer supply would bave run oot. The passage bad occupied 114 days. Tbe weather had not been bad. Tbe ship waa in port when the men refused to work. Wit- _ nes bad given no specific order, but merely said "turn to." By tbe Magistrate: Tbey bad flour oo alternate days at firet. They got no floor wben fresh meat wes served oot. After tbe fresb meat ran out they had fiour only every second wetk. He had no sutbority for giving potatoes instead of floor. Archibald Menzies, chief officer of the- barque Clan Csmpbeil, corroborated Che evidence of tbe captain. By Mr Allan: The men refused to work on tbe ground tl at they had been improperly treated. During tbe voyage the men bad complained about tbe provisions. Tbey complained about tbe potatoes particularly. Mr Allan said his defence was, that Ibe men bad refused duty on account of (be provisions supplied to tbem. They bad merely refused in order to bave their grievances heard in a proper Court. Tbey bad not refused till the ship had oome into port. Henry Kerby, cook of the Clan Campbell, deposed tbat, the men had complained to him a great msny times. The flour was not fit for anyone to eat. It was full of dirt. Tbe potatoes eupplied to the men were the refuse of the captain's mess. They smelt horribly, aod made tbe men who ate them sick. When the meu complained aboul (he potatoes the captain said tbey must either eat tbem or nothing. The rice too waa quite unfit Uveal; Tbe i ego lat ioo supply of lime juice bad not been given to the men. Tbe men refused to work on account of the ill-treatment tbey received. Witness bad been . treated by tbe steward like a dog. The steward told witness tbat t|ie oaptaio bad ordered bim to give the meu juat whet be chose to give them. By tbe captain; Tbe bad flour had been served out almost from the begi_iog of tbs voyage. Witness had beard tbe men complain to tbe captain about the flour. The steward had given witness orders to pick out tbe best of the . potatoes for the captain's table. Tbe peas were old stores. Tbe magistrate remarked that tbe captain bad no busines to serve cut old ■tores. In answer to tbe magistrate, the captain stated that tbere was an entry in the official log about the misconduct of ; one of tbe men (Watson) during tbe ?#*ge. Tbe magistrate said ihat wit 6 this exception the conduct of tbe men had evidently been good. The sa^e evidence was taken concerning the other sailora as had beeu given io Ibe ease of Taylor. The magistrate said the proper course for ibe men to have adopted would bave been to ask to come ashore •ud make: their complaints to a magistrate. Tbey were not legally justified io refusiog duty. They would eacb ba sentenced to three days imprisonment •ad be ordered to forfeit each two days pay. They bad iheir remedy againet the captaiu for supplying improper provisions, if tbey chose to avail themselves of it after they came out prison. [We understand that the aailora intend to take proceedings against the captain for supplying improper provisions to them on the voyage.!