SHIP AHOY!

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 January 1923, Page 8

SHIP AHOY!

“GIVE US A TOW.” An amusing story was told in the Police Court at Auckland. Aland Forbes, wile of William Forbes, fisherman, whom she assists iii his calling, said she lived on Flat Island. On November 23, when returning from Whangapara in an open boat they sighted the VVaipu, a Northern Company steamer. Tlieir open boat was sufficiently safe to take them back to Flat Island, but a stiffish wind was blowing, and as they had been awake for two days without a rest they were feeling “purty done up.” So they hailed the ship. “1 asked the captain if he would give us a tow. He said, ‘Very well,’ an’ we hooked on behind. We went on board then, and went down to the cabin. I asked the steward, Thomas, for a couple of drinks. He gave us two whiskies. We each had two. I paid for them—don’t know how much. Wo bought a bottle of whisky, a loaf, some butter and cigarettes. Then 1 gave ’im a £5 note, and it came to £2 for the lot. If wo had not got on board we might not have got back for two days. The wind was stiff. Of course, I’ve been towed before, and I always got a drink them times too!”

William Forbes said that lie had to pull four or live miles on the date under review, and if he had not been picked up half-way home he would have been very exhausted. He told the same story regarding the drinks. The incident was related in connection with a charge preferred against the Northern Steamship Company and Joseph C. Thomas, steward on the. Waipu, that they did dispose of liquor during a passage to one Alami Forbes, she being other than a. passenger. Sergeant Lambert said he had interviewed Thomas who made. a. statement, admitting that six packets of cigarettes, a bottle of whisky at 14/6 and two drinks had been sold to the old couple. They were respectable working people so far as he knew, and they were sober when they left the boat. Air W. E. Ward, who appeared for defendant company, and defendant Thomas, contended that the couple, had been piwsengers and entitled to liquor, lie cited several authorities and dictionaries in substantiation of his contention. Senior Sergeant Rawle submitted that “passengers” could not be applied as the term for persons travelling as the couple had been, and he quoted several authorities in support. A,lr J. W. I'oynton said the steward might as well have sold a- hogshead as a bottle. It was different from selling drinks to passengers —supplying them with what was necessary, lie. would look into the question, and give a decision later.