IN HASTE TO BE WED.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 153, 28 June 1919, Page 7

IN HASTE TO BE WED.

THE GROOM AS A STOWAWAY. AN EX-SOLDIER'S AD\ 7 ENTURE. Haste to get married was given as the reason for the action of a young man, Arthur Aylward (27), who had stowed away on the s-s. Waiiuariiio on Tuesday, in an endeavour to get from Auckland to Sydney. He had shipped at Vancouver on the Niagara as a steward, giving the chief steward to understand that he desired to be paid off at Sydney. When the Niagara arrived at Auckland, the shipping disorganisation was found to be such that the ship was diverted from the Sydney trip, and Aylward took leg bail. On Tuesday the Waimarino left the harbour for Sydney, .but developed engine trouble, after she had cleared the harbour, and had to return. In the meantime Aylward was discovered hidden away in a vegetable locker, and though-he offered -to work his passage, the offer could not be accepted as the ship was fully manned. He was told that he would be handed over to the police, but after the Waimarino had put back to the harbour he escaped by hailing a passing launch and getting a run to the short. Yesterday he was endeavouring to get a job on the s.s. Manuka, bound for Sydney, when he was recognised and arrested by Constable Gourley on a charge of having attempted to leave New Zealand without a permit. He had about £60 on him, £50 of which was in American currency. When Aylward came before Mr. J. E. Wilson, S.M., to-day he admitted that •he had attempted to get away without a permit. Mr. A. Moody, on the prisoner's behalf stated that the latter was in 'haste to get back to Australia because he wished to carry out his engagement to marry a young lady- in Adelaide. He had been for 17 months on active service in France with the Canadian forces. ) His endeavour to conserve his finances 1 was natural in view of the proposed venture in matrimony, but he ihad worked him passage from Vancouver, and had intended to work his way on the Waimarino once the ship had got dear of New Zealand. BHs Worship . remarked that even though the war was practically over, it was a very necessary precaution to keep a, watch on persons coming in and going out of the country, and the prisoner had broken regulations made for that purpose. He would be fined £2.