POTS AND PANS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 February 1925, Page 5

POTS AND PANS.

THROWN IN SEA. LIVELY DOINGS ON AORANGI. CHARGE AGAINST STEWARDS. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 25. v . . It would appeal- that more went on on board the Aorangi during, the voyage from England than one would dream of. An amazing story was told in the Police Court this moi'ning about two stewards who passed the -time away by throwihg quantities of the ship's cutlery, crockery, and general gear out _ of port-holes with such reckless abandon that had the journey lasted a few months little would have been left, George Scott (29) was charged with the theft of a dustpan and a broom (7s), a settee cushion (20s); a glass tumbler (7d), and a quantity of cutleij, while Joseph Olivier was charged that on the high seas he did damage a wooden drawer valued at 30s and steal a cushion valued at-20s; All the goods were the property of the Union Steamship Company. Both accused pleaded not guilty. 1 ‘ , . . 1 Jane Kennedy, a third-class passenger, stated that she had; seen. Scott take a glass and throw it out or a port-hole in the third-class diningroom. She had also seen him throw plates into the sea in the same manner. She remarked about it to accused, who told witness that it was all right, because “they got a new crate of dishes in every port.” v A number of witnesses were, then called. One woman stated that she saw Scott throw a broom and dustpan out of a port-hole, while on other occasions she had seen plates consigned to the deep. Scott told this witness that the place was a pig-hole, and 'he received the repiy that if he swept it out properly it would not be. , . , A third-class waiter testified to, Ob-, serving accused get rid 1 of the. ship’s gear per medium of a port-hole, while , another swore to seeing him put silverware in his pocket. D. N. Miller, a steward on the Aorangi, said that on the voyage he began to miss cutlery and silver. He had trouble with Scott, who was laterdisrated. Since Scott and Olivier had been removed- £o the third-class' there; had been practically no losses. Regarding the charges against Olivier, Alexander Munroe, a secondclass steward, said accused asked him • for the keys for his drawer. Witness told him he did not have any. Later he heard & noie, ‘and next morning he found the drawer smashed. Robert Ashby, master-at-arms, stated that accused had been interviewed., regarding the drawer and had admitted, taking a spade to lever it open. In the operations the drawer came apart. “These fellows are guilty of sabotage,” said the Magistrate. “They take a delight in damaging other people’s property and they think it- funny. They are really fanatics. Their mischief really comes back on the heads of the workers. It is a very bad case. Olivier is sentenced to one month’s imprison-.; ment and ordered to pay costs. Scott will receive three- months .On the first two charges, the sentences to be cumulative; and on the others he is convicted and discharged.”