FRENCH TARS IN TROUBLE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 247, 24 November 1909, Page 2

FRENCH TARS IN TROUBLE

i'/ Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Tuesday. N-ii-n liencli nicno'-warsiucn from AoiiiiK-n, .iwaiting a steamer to proceed to Sydney, made u disturbance in a hotel hist night when they were retnseil beer on the ground that they had enough. One man rushed behind th,. bar, and on lieing .stopped bv the barmaid, smacked her face. Assistance arrived, a rough-and-tumble followed, and the Frenchmen were bundled out, some of them sustaining rather severe injuries'.

The police arrested live of them, and conveyed them to the police station, where their injuries were attended to by a doctor. Two ringleaders were charged with assault and creating a breach of the .peace. All the men were subsequently bailed out by the French Consul and placed aboard' the Malieno, bound for Sydney. [ When the cases were called in Court this morning, their bail was declared to be forfeited.

Mr. Ivettle commented strongly upon the French nien-o'-warsmcn having been allowed bail and permitted to leuve liy the Malieno. He said: "I don't care who they are, or, what country they belongto; they cannot lie dealt with jany differently from our own people. 'lf men are to commit gross assaults' on women and then be permitted to go away, I want to know by what author-1 ity tlie polico .allowed them to leave the | country." Mr. Kettle subsequently expressed himself satisfied with the explanation that the offence did not at j first appear to be serious,