STOWAWAYS FOUND

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1064, 30 August 1930, Page 1

STOWAWAYS FOUND

CHINESE SUFFER FROM SUGAR FUMES APPEARANCE IN COURT Eight stowaways reached Auckland this morning—four Chinese on th« Norwegian steamer Penybryn from Suva, and four Europeans from Newcastle on the Omana. ■ The four Chinese on the Penybryn, would have died from the effects of sugar fumes, if the captain had not received a wireless message stating that they were probably on board the vessel.

Captain Thorval Salveson, master of the Penybrj'n, stated this morning that the Chinese were almost dead when they were found hidden in No. 2 hold.

Although the Penybryn was in Suva for only a day, taking on sufficient coal to allow her to reach Auckland, the four Chinese must have secreted themselves in the hold among the large bags of raw sugar which comprised the whole of the ship's cargo. The stowaways were found two days out. They had had no food and were suffering from exhaustion. Soon after the Penybryn left Suva the vessel ran into rough weather and the hatch was battened dowu. Consequently the Chinese could not chain any fresh air and this, combined with the fumes from the raw sugar, soon exhausted them.

However, they revived when they were dragged into the fresh air. Captain Salvesen put them under observation in a cabin and this morning they were handed over to the police when the vessel reached Auckland. SMUGGLING SUGGESTED On the last trip of the Tofua from Fiji two other Chinese stowaways were found on board, and it was suggested then that some attempt was being made to smuggle them into the Dominion.

Pleading guilty to stowing away on the Omana. at Newcastle on August 23. James Doohan. aged 23. Alfred Wallace MacKenzie, aged 23, both labourers, Richard Patterson, an ironworker. aged 31. and George Davidson, a carpenter, aged 2j». were each fined £7 10s or 14 days.

Captain Ostenfeld said the men had been' found when the ship was 140 miles out from Newcastle. About 20 others had tried to stow away before the ship left. “The men worked well on the trip.” said the captain. “However, the company objects to this sort of thing.”

Mr. Hunt said that New Zealand objected, too. as he fined the men. Ah Joe, aged IS. Chung Mon. aged 34, Low Pow, aged 35. and Chung Fow. aged 36, pleaded guilty to stowing away on the Penybryn at Suva on August 23. “We’ll send them back. 1 don't suppose they can pay fines.” said Mr. Hunt, as he sentenced each of the offenders to 14 days' imprisonment and ordered them to be deported if a vessel left before the sentences expired.