FIGHT ON FERRY BOAT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 120, 21 May 1917, Page 6

FIGHT ON FERRY BOAT.

jPASSENGER FALLS OVERBOARD

A PLUCKY RESCUE.

The trip of the 9.30 ferry boat from Auckland to Devonport on Saturday night was marked by several excitin"' inndents, of which the primary causa was the conduct of a party of Maori soldiers, and the result a narrow escape of a passenger from drowning, and a remarkably plucky ;escue by two other passengers.

Shortly before the boat left a number of Maoris in khaki created a disturbance at the foot of Queen Street, and after the police had intervened and dispersed a large crowd which had gathered most of the men came aboard and continued the disturbance there. The trouble culminated as the boat was almost alongside the Stanley Bay wharf, when a passenger named Robert Rae, a boilermaker living at Devonport. was knocked down by one of the natives and fell into the water. The alarm was not given until he was some distance astern of the steamer. Although the water was decidedly choppy, and there was a grave danger that he would be cut to pieces by the screw, Mr. Alfred R. Huggins, a Harbour Board winchman, jumped In and swam to where Rae was struggling. Rae was soon practically helpless, but his resener succeeded in bringing him almost up to the steamer. At this stage another man, named Granger, dived in and assisted in getting the now unconscious man aboard. Artificial respiration was carried out for some time, and Rae came round just as the boat reached Devonport. He was then attended by Dr. Ben ett and taken to his home, not much the worse. SEQUEL IN COURT. Meanwhile the police had been called, and a Maori named Ben Reedy, aged '20, was arrested on a charge of being disorderly while drunk. He appeared before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., at the Police Court this morning, and pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant McNeeley, in recounting the circumstances, said that the trouble was due to drink. The Maoris concerned raised what w_6 really a mild riot before they embarked, and a dispute arose on board when the accused took charge of a pheasant belongr ing to a white passenger. The bird was recovered, but the passenger also demanded an apology, whereupon the accused went away and returned with half a dozen mates, who knocked down the man who wanted the apology, and in the scuffle the man fell overboard, being nearly drowned. Further charges were pending, but a 6 the present accused did not seem to have taken the principal part, it was unli v :ely that he would be charged again. An officer from the Maori camp informed the magistrate that it was desired to deal with the accused under military law, and accordingly he was handed over to the custody of a guard. MAGISTRATE'S SUGGESTION. "This is not the first time that a Maori soldier has been up for drunkenness," remarked Mr. Frazer. "I don't like to make invidious distinction., but a good many of these mien come from the country," and the temptatioa is too muc hfor them. I would suggest to the officers that they can remedy the trouble by putting all hotels out of bounds. I have noticed myself that' there is a good deal of drinking among the Maoris, and if their officers do not take the matter up, something should be done to prohibit Maori soldiers from being served I am surprised that the hotelkeepers give them so much, because it is a matter that affects themselves There is an agitation against the Trade, and the licensees will have themselves to blame if ' the consequences are unfavourable to them.