Stowaway Charged At Kaikohe

Northern Advocate, 21 October 1938, Page 2

Stowaway Charged At Kaikohe

An unusual case was heard at the Kaikohe court on Thursday morning, when Harold Cuthbort Pitman, a seaman. aged 22, was charged before Messrs W. Shaw and N. A. Ellery, J.P’s, with having stowed away on the s.s. Kaimiro at Auckland on Tuesday. prior to the ship leaving for Sydneja When off the Russell coast at 3 o’clock next morning, he was discovered by the master, who decided to communicate with the Union Steamship Company’s agent at Russell, who preceded to the ship by launch and took Pitman to Paihia, where he was handed over to the Kaikohe police, who took him into custody.

Accused pleaded guilty when brought before the court and stated that he wanted to go to Sydney, where he thought he would have a better chance of getting a ship than he had in Auckland.

Constable Robinson, who prosecuted, stated that-accused was a fireman, who had left his ship, in Auckland about six months ago. and since then had been living there. “Shipping companies,” lie stated, “had lately had a considerable amount of trouble with stowaways, and had been put to a lot of unnecessary expense .in dealing with them. Accused was convicted and sentenced to 14 days’ hard labour in Mt. Eden.