LYTTELTON NEWS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16213, 16 May 1918, Page 9

LYTTELTON NEWS

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, beforp Messrs F. Knight and L. A. Stringer, J.P.'s, John Wallace Halcombe (Mr Cassidy), an American seanKin, was charged with absenting himself without leave fiom his ship. Mr Cassidy stated that accused admitted the charge. He was a native of Kansas City, U.S.A., and eigned on a vessel in the capacity of cabin boy, being subsequently required to take up tho cook's duties. He had left the vessel at Lvttclton, and proceeded to Wellington, where he consulted the American Consul, to whom he stated his position, mentioning that it was his wish to enlist witl l the Now Zealand Military Forces. Acting on, the Consul's advice, Hfllcombo enlisted, and waq passed by tho Medical Board a3 fit for active servicc, and ordered to procced to camp in June. At the request of accused, however, the date was altered to April 3rd. Halcombe was in the meantime arrested for desertion, and sent back to his vessel. Being determined to leavo the ship, he again absented himself, going this time to the country, where he worked on a farm for several weeks, being finally arrested and again returned to Lyttelton. The young man, said Mr Cassidy, was very anxious to go to the front. He would make an ideal toidier, being strong and healthy, and of good I physique. He would certainly be better employed on the battlefield than as cabin boy in a ship. Accused, giving evidence, stated that ne had left'the ship because while on the vessel he could not obtain the bare .necessaries of life. All his clothes, except those lie was wearing, which were not heavy enough for winter weather, had been lost, with the ship, and he could obtain neither money nor clothes from the ship's master to replace his lost outfit. He had been half starved in tho ship, and had walked about the streets in the port for several weeks without "a cent" in his pocket, the captain having told him that the wages due' to him had been used to pay a substitute while he was absent from the vessel. A discussion aroee between counsel and the Bench as to whether the man could have his ship's articles rescinded in order to allow him to go into camp, Mr Cassidy contending that Halcombe, having been accepted for service, was now under the control of the New - Zealand Military Authorities. John Joseph Bennett, master of tho vessel, stated that he was unwilling to allow accused to sign off the vessel's articles, as there might be some difficulty in replacing him. , , Before giving its decision the Bench had. a private consultation with the ship's maste{ and Halcombe, it being finally decided to convict and discharge accused, ana the captain, withdrew his objection to allowing the young man to prooeed to camp.

RED CROSS BRANCH. The third annual meeting of the Lyttelton branch, of th€ Ited. Cross Socicty was held iast evening, the Mayor (Mr W. T. Lester)' presiding. The balance-ehcefc showed reoeipts £-2469 17s 2d, and expenditure £•2446. The election o!' officers ' resulted as followa:—President, Mr W. T. Lester; vicepresident, Mrs Lester; treasurer, Mr W. Brown; secretary, Rev. J. R. Hewland; assistant secretary, Miss K. Brown; committee, Meadames Harris, J. Young, F. Crawford, F. G. Norton, J. Beawick, F. W. Anderson, Miss A. Weastell, Messrs W. G. Taylor, M. J. sMiller, and Dr. Upham. On the motion of Mr L. A. Stringer, a vote of thanks was accorded to the lady workers, and to those who had- assisted the branch during the year.