OVERCROWDING A STEAMER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 75, 1 April 1897, Page 2

OVERCROWDING A STEAMER.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE MAHINAPUA

FINED.

At the Police Courb yesterday afternoon, James Robertson, captain of the Union Company's Bteamer Mahinapua, pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him of on March 3rd, ab Onehunga, having had on board his steamer 85 cabin passengers, such number being in excess of the number allowed by the sbeamer'e certificate. Mr Tole, Crown solicitor, represented the Collector of Customs, and Mr Hugh Campbell appeared for tho defendant. • The explanabiou of Captain Robertson was to the effect that when-the Mahinapua was leaving Now Plymouth for bhe Manukau ib was found that a greater number of passengers was going on board than the ship's certificate allowed. The captain did his best to get them to leave the ship, and warned them that they were liable to prosecution. Some of those who were warned went away, bub in spite of all he could do tea passengers in oxces* of tho legitimate number wenb on board and were brought bo Onehunga. Mr Campbell submitted thab tho defendant had done all that ib was poasible to do undor bhe circumstances.

Mr Tole said that tho defondanb was empowered by Section 205 of the Act to prosecute all those who rofused to leave tho ship. Although the Collector of Customs did not wish thflb the full penalty which the law allowed should bo enforced in this case, still he asked that such a penalty should bo imposed as would show that the safety of the pasjengers and craw Bhould not be imperilled in this manner. Mr Brabant, S.M., said that to inflict a nominal penalty in this case would be absurd. Tho Union Company had profited by tho extra passengers. He imposed a fine of £5, with Is a head for the 10 extra passengers carried, and Court costs.