CARGO-BROACHING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 23, 28 January 1908, Page 7

CARGO-BROACHING.

-* FIREMEN ALLEGED TO BE IMPLICATED. TUT TELEGRAPn — MESS ASSOCIATION."] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A serious case of cargo broaching was discovered in Lyttelton to-day, and resuited in the arrest of seven firemen employed on the steamer Papanui. The offence has been prevalent in Lyttelton for a long time past, and many efforts have been made to bring the offenders to book. Yesterday the prompt action of the police and Customs officers proved effective. The cargo broaching took place between Saturday night and yesterday morning, when it was discovered that five cases of goods in the hold of the Papanui had been broken open and pillaged. One case, which had contained silverware consigned to Messrs. Peterson and Company, had been completely emptied, and in all goods to the value of over £60 had been removed. The offence had probably been committed on Saturday night after work in the holds had ceased. The matter was reported to the police ab once, and Sergeant Ryan, Detective Livingstone, and Constable Wilson, assisted by the Customs officers and the officers of the steamer, proceeded to make a search of the Papanui. They had reason to suspect that the goods were still aboard, and most of the stolen property was found. The greater part was in the firemen's quarters, and one bag was secured in the stokehold. Some of the men wero about to throw this bag into one of the furnaces when they were seen by an officer, who interfered. Seven of the Papanui's firemen were arrested on charges of being connected with the cargo broaching, and will be brought before the court in due course.