"JOHNNY" ASHORE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1927, Page 8

"JOHNNY" ASHORE.

TRIALS OF THE SHIPOWNER,

STEAMER SAILS LATE

When "Johnny" goes ashore lie mi>-t.l of course, "wash the brine off his I whiskers," but it is his habit of priming himself with "Dutch courage" upon the eve of the ship's departure that adds to the grey hairs of the skipper's head. All day yesterday a steamer was unloading a disagreeable cargo at one of the city's wharves, and this no doubt contributed to the thirst of the crew of the good ship. Be this as it may. four members of the stokehold crow vent up town to lubricate, and at 11 o'clock last night, an hour after the! vessel was supposed to have sailed, tlipy had not returned. Another member of the crew went to look for them, but h->! also was soon reported "missing." This morning the five sea dogs, two of them bearing scars of war, returned on board. Of the two casualties, one had his hand rather badly gashed, apparently the result of a reckless attempt to' scile the wharf gates, which are topped with a formidable array of sharp spikes. During the morning the vessel lay alongside the wharf, her Blue Petor flying from the foremast. Eventually the injured man, who made a trip to the hospital for treatment, was paid off and a new hand signed on in his stead.

And so, after being delayed for nearly fifteen hours, the freighter cast off aboat 1 o'clock this afternoon and sailed out of harbour, bound for Newcastle.