FIGHT ON STEAMER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1066, 2 September 1930, Page 10

FIGHT ON STEAMER

TWO MALTESE ASSAULT OFFICERS BOTH SENT TO GAOL NELSON, Monday. The unexpected visit of the Bristol Channel Shipping Company's steamer Lady Lewis, of 8,400 tons, which put into Nelson on Saturday morning in order to replenish her bunkers, was prolonged until today through the conduct of several members of her crew. When she resumed her voyage to Westport this afternoon she sailed without two Maltese members, who were sentenced to terms of imprisonment by Mr. T. E. Maunsell, S.M.. at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Paul \ttard, a Maltese, aged 41 years, was charged with assaulting Edwin Price, the second officer, and also with drunkenness. He pleaded guilty. Charles Gauca, a Maltese fireman, aged 22 years, was also charged with assaulting the second officer, and with assaulting John Richards, the fourth engineer. He pleaded guilty and handed a letter to the magistrate expressing sorrow for his actions. Mr. C. R. Tell, who appeared for the master of the Lady Lewis, explained that the two men went to the forecastle and there they threw things about and threw food over other members of the crew. They then went aft and started a “barney” with the master. The second mate was near by, and Gauca attempted to throw him overboard to the deck of the Waikawa, which was moored alongside. THROWN TO DECK A tussle followed, the fourth engineer giving assistance to the mate, who was thrown to the deck. Mr. Tell said that Gauca and Attard had created a state of terror on board, and the officers refused to sail with them at the scheduled time. Later the pair went ashore, where Attard was arrested for drunkenness. Gauca returned to the ship between six and seven o’clock and threw the fourth officer from one deck to the other, inflicting injuries which necessitated his removal to hospital. If the offenders had been Englishmen, the captain would probably have gone to sea with them, but knowing their nationality he was not willing to do so, owing to the tactics they might adopt. The captain, officers and crew did not think it safe to go to sea with the men. On the magistrate asking Attard if he had anything to say, he was met with a blank look, and Gauca said that Attard could not speak English. “Yes, he can, and he can understand,” intervened the captain of the ship. The magistrate sentenced Attard to two months’ imprisonment, and Gauca to one month on the first charge and two months on the second charge, the sentences to be cumulative. The Lady Lewis sailed for West port this afternoon at three o’clock. The ship is at present engaged in the phosphate trade with Nauru, and af ’$ r coaling at Westport she will leave New Zealand.