A GIRL’S ESCAPADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 23, 10 January 1912, Page 6

A GIRL’S ESCAPADE.

MASQUERADING AS A BOY. While on his beat in Norwich Quay, Lyttelton, tbe, ,oth^r r rnorjiing, Con-, stable, Pottep<wva?- struck'?by.* .the prepossessing apjjeafixhco of d : “youth” who passed witli a jaunty air. Passing round, the. blqck, he noticed the “youth” coining! 'out- of ; the ! Albion Hotel, puffing a cigarette and whistling merrily between whiles. With hands in: pockets, the youth' par/ed i along the street. and (Jown to the wharf, where “ho” went-on board the . Victoria. Being somewhat suspicious, 1 Constable' Potthr called, Actirg-Dctoc- . tive’Cafney, and,informed him of what he had seen. After a brief wait on the wharf, the two officers met the youth-coming off the steamer’s gangway; Detective Carney was at first inclined to think that the youth was a boj- belonging to the Mararoa, but a' second.glance assured him otherwise. Turning round, the youth addressed the officers of the law, and the voice was plainly not that of a male. Becoming/, confused, the “youth” made a clean breast of everything and admitted being a girl masquerading in male attire. She had come from Dunedin, and the previous night in Christchurch got a woman to cut her hair , She put on a suit of male attire and a cap, and went through to Lyttelton yesterday morning. Entering the shop of a local barber she had another hair-cut. The hairdresser quite unsuspicious, gave her a close “trim” for which she paid “like a man.” The purchase of a packet of cigarettes completed ; the illusion, and she passed into the streets, only to he detected ‘ later by the keen eyes of the police, . who took hpr too the station. Seen there the girl, who made a very presentable boy, unfolded her story, which was to the following effect. She had been working in Dunedin and had saved sufficient money to go to Wellington for a holiday. She stayed- in the Empire City for some time, but had a disagreement with her friends-and finally decided to clear out. Slie returned to Christchurch on December 27th. and stayed at a’boardinghouse. She stated that she purchased the hoy’s clothes and put them on yesterday morning for the first time. Her intention was to try to ship in a steamer as a brass-boy. When first taken to the station she appeared to be greatly distressed, hut later became more cheerful. She gave her age as 21 years. Sergeant Ryan informed the authorities at Christchurch, who are communicating with her relatives at Dunedin, and it is probable that she will ho returned to them.—Press.