Captain Miller in Trouble.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3180, 29 April 1879, Page 2

Captain Miller in Trouble.

Henry Miller wit charged at the Auckland Police Court yesterday with a breach of the New Zealand' Post-office Act of 1858, lection 29, by not using diligence for the secure custody of the mail While the same was in his charge ou board the Enterprise No. 2 on her pas* sage between the Thames and Auckland on the 11th January, 1879. Mr Samuel Heiketh appeared in defence..,- •. : „( ,„..,.,,,,,. : ,- (r^r ...'. . < Mr Brookfield for the prosecution. '" Thomas Aicken, clerk, employed at.the Post-office, Thames, deposed that it wai bis duty to make up the Auoklaud mail* bags for Auckland and Wellington, and he did so on the day in question. The list of letters and parcels were pat in and read. - The bags were properly sealed and tied.

Witness handed the bag to the met* senger for delivery to the steamer.y ' f -< To Mr Hesketh: There was'only one parcel, and inside were the Auckland and Wellington^ bags.. ■ n I ? Isaac Xeary, employed at the Thames Post-office, took the mail on board ?the steamer, of which Captsia' Miller it the master. He saw Mr Hudson make up the Wellington bag and be placed it into the mail big; ' Also, the correspondence for Auckland, made up by Mr Aiekeu. He sealed them, and delivered the whole of the bags to the mate, who signed for them.:;. /■.:•'. ■.''■ ; ;;t; -^. To Mr Hesketh: He had been con* nected with the Post-offlce at the Thames since October 1969., : He iavariably placed the bags in the lajooh, but had suggested to Captain Miller the necessity of finding a more aeoure place. Henry Marret, first mate of the Enter* priie, deposed to taking the bag on board * on the 11 January. It was 1: tied and sealed. He signed for it. It could not be kept under look and key as there wat no such contenience on board.

John Killian, messenger at the Auckland Post Office, deposed to going on board -the Enterprise, and 4 found tht Thames mail in the place where vif Irai usually kept. He taw no one ou board* Did not bring the mail away, as there ?were other mails, and were altogethprutfo much for him to carry. ':'„-.! X"V After some evidence at. tothe r state of the mail, counsel on, both' sides addressed the Court. Hit Worship' taid that certainly the cabin was not a proper place-*** open 'to all—wherein to keep the quul» and he must find defendant guilty; but h« did' not think he ought to be made a special victim, but it wat hit duty to tee that the mail wai securely kept! He must impose a fine of 40s'and oolti.*»« Star.