THE EGERIA MUTINY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 471, 14 May 1890, Page 5

THE EGERIA MUTINY.

Referring to the mutiny on the Egeria, the Sydney “ Telegraph ” says : —“ The disaflection grew among the men shortly after the new crew was shipped. When the vessel was last in Sydney Harbour they considered they were being very harshly dealt with and the wonder is, even among themi selves, that the yoke was borne so quietly. Some of the men say that trouble was expected before the ship left, but second thoughts were ao the time considered best. On the voyage across to New Zealand the tyranny of some of the officers became more marked, the yoke became more galling, and in Auckland Harbour the disorganised state of affairs culminated in open mutiny. The row at the hotel in Auckland, previously reported, formed pabt of the mutiny, but in itself might easily have been settled. The real trouble followed after, but, as before stated, no further particulars are at present available. Fourteen or 15 of the ringleaders in the disturbance are, it is understood, to be court-marlialled, and a court of inquiry is to bo held into the conduct and actions of the captain and senior lieutenant.” Another paper says: “ said to have reached a climax on Good Friday, a day which is regarded in the service as a close holiday. It is asserted that the men were asked to * turn to ! that day and they point-blank refused. There was, as may readily be believed under the existing and necessarily stringent discipline of a man-of-war, a considerable scene. The boatswain piped the various watches to duty, but there was no response, and the men continued down below, playing concertinas and singing, keeping up Good Friday in their orthodox fashion, quite heedless of the officers’ orders.” THE COURT MARTIAL. The court martial on the prisoners was opened on Thursday, Ist inst., the officers constituting it being from the vessels of the squardion in port. The first case was that against Pettyofficer Arthur Wm. Allen, arraigned on two charges of disobedience to his superior officers and with having endeavoured to make a mutinous assembly on the Egeria on April 4th. Edward C. Helby, first lieutenant of the Egeria. deposed that twice after 4 p.m. on April 4th he gave the order to pipe all hands on deck. No one appeared. Then the petty officers were piped on deck. They were told to send the men aft. Collins, senior petty officer, said that he and several others tried to get the men aft. Prisoner said the petty officers could not make the men work if they did not mean to. Witness said to Allen, that if he could not get the men aft, he had better remain aft himself. Prisoner said “No,” and walked forward among the men. All the petty officers walked forward, and there was a great deal of altercation among the men. All hands were then piped to fall in, and a list made of those who did so fall in. Prisoner did not fall in. He was very excited, and witness did not think he meant to try to- get the men aft. Prisoner was sober. Lieutenants Dawson and Gilpin Brown corroborated this evidence. Edward Lawler, boatswain, said when the petty officers were ordered to go forward and send the men aft prisoner said, “It’s no use going forward and sending the men up, as they will not work.” When ordered to fall in on the quarter-deck prisoner said he would not fall in on the quarter-deck, and went forward. Witness heard him say to the men, “ Be men and keep together.” He did not believe the prisoner intended to try to get the men to fall in aft. Several other witnesses gave corroborative evidence. Prisoner stated that he did not hear the call of all hands on deck, and that he was nob personally told to remain aft. Private Albert Parks deposed that Lieut. Helby said to prisoner, “If you are no good, fall in at the other side.” Other rebutting evidence was given by the captain and several other officers of the Egeria as to Allen’s previous good character The Judge-Advocate read a long record of service by Allen, extending over a number of years, and certificates showing on the whole a most praiseworthy record of good conduct and patiently-won promotion. The Court was cleared and after along deliberation a sentence of five years’ penal servitude was pronounced.