IMPORTANT TO MAIL CARRIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 251, 23 October 1893, Page 8

IMPORTANT TO MAIL CARRIERS.

A case of an unusual nature was heard'fchia morning »b the R.M. Court, by Dr. Giles. William Farquhar, master of thes.s. Clansman, was charged that on the 6th of October, he did nob take due care for the secure custody of.the mail in his charge, in that he did nob lock up the mail and keep it separate and apart from all other things. Mr McAllister, in opening the case, said that the mail bag bad been cut open. In the ordinary course there would have been in tho letter bag some £800 or £900, as there had been a ealo near Totara North, from where this mail had been dispatched. Fortunately, the auctioneer had sent the money by a mail daapatchod by a different routo. Mr S. Hesketh appeared for the defence. Miss M. F. Lane, daughter of the postmaster at Totara North, deposed thab she made up tbo mail on the sth of October. She identified the bag producad, bub could nob say whether the slit was in the bag when she made up tho mail. George F. Andrews, mail contractor, depoßed to delivering the mall bag he received from la«b witness to tho second officer of the Clansman.

George Moulder, postal messenger, Auckland, deposed to taking the mail bag from the Clansman. On arrival at the post office he found the bag was split. Thomas Henry Kichard, second officer of the fl.s. Clansman, deposed that the mail waa kept in a batch battened down, but not locked. No one wenb down thab hatch without the knowledge of an officer. There were some paint pots and rope also in the hatch, but separate from the mail. Locks had been placed on the hatch since the mail had been tampered with. John Taw, first officer of the Clansman, deposed that the hatch was always fastened when the mail was on board. Captain William Farquhar deposed that he had been master of the s.s. Clansman for the lasb ten years. Ho had been at aea aboub forty years and been master 27 years. All thab time the mails had been carried in the hold amongst the cargo. He never saw the mail himself. There was an iron bulk-heart at each side of the hold in which the mail was corried. The second officer waa responsible for the mails. Dr Giles said ib was quite clear thab the hatch was nob locked in the manner indicated by the Act. As far as the mail bags being kept separate, ho was inclined to think the Act had beenq complied wit*. No* hftvrog taken euftcwn* I

care was a serious question, as the Act imposed a penalty not exceeding £100 for any departure from the regulation. He found no proof of carelessness, saving the failure to lock up the mail. A. fine of £5 and costs was inflicted, the total being £18 10s.