FOLLOWING A CIRCUS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 120, 17 November 1931, Page 11

FOLLOWING A CIRCUS

MELBOURNE STOWAWAYS

FIRM STAND TAKEN

,'By Telegraph.—l'rcss Association.)

IXVERCARGILL, 16th November

When the police went aboard the Wainui at Bluff jesteiday considerable ingenuity was displayed by some o£ the liftccn stowaways from Melbourne to avoid detection.

Three of them were iound lying on the cross-arm of the aftermast, which is about Sft long and ISm wide; three were found concealed in'gear under the bunks in the "booby hatch" aft; an unoccupied animals' cage belonging to Wirths' Circus shielded tluee more, while ;i similar.number in the hold -were discovered slcoping under some straw. Two secreted..themselves above the boilers, but were.driven out by the heat. Ali pleaded guilty in Court later to stowing away, and eight of them to landing in New Zealand without a permit. The other, seven stated , that they had been born in New Zealand, and pleaded not guilty to the latter charge. Senior-Sergeant Packer said the men had come to New Zealand in the hope of obtaining employment with Wirths' Circus. He asked that if they were unable to pay their fares they should be given a sharp term of imprisonment. The Magistrate ordered all the offenders to pay the amount of the fare, £0 ss, plus expenses, in default 30 days' imprisonment. The Australians were ordered to be deported and the alleged New Zealanders were remanded until Wednesday morning. The senior-sergeant said that verification of their statements would be^forthcoming from Wellington by that time.