SHIPS QUARTERMASTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 7 October 1936, Page 2

SHIPS QUARTERMASTER

INCIDENT ON THE REMUERA CHARGE OF ASSAULTING THIRD MATE THREE MONTHS’ HARD LABOUR (By Telegraph —Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. With the ship following a zig-zag course the third officer and the quartermaster struggled at the wheel of the Remuera as the vessel was passing Cape Campbell on Monday night. Later a ship’s axe, thrown by the quartermaster, crashed through a glass panel into the captain’s cabin, where the third officer had gone seeking aid. The quartermaster followed the axe and grappled with the mate but received a black eye and was taken into custody.

The quartermaster, James Lundy, aged 42 years, a native of Ireland, appeared in Court this morning charged with assaulting the third mate, Harold Hill, on the high seas. Lundy was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour, by Mr Levvey. S.M.. and ordered to be placed on the shin at the c-nd of the term. . The police said the Remuera saileri from Wellington at 5 o’clock on Monday. Lundy was due on the bridge at 8 o’clock, but arrived ten minutes late. The third mate knew Lundy had been drinking in Wellington, and alter a few minutes sent for another man to take the wheel as the mate was anxious to get an accurate bearing off C-aoe Campbell. Lundy refused to go, ‘but after a struggle was put out of the wheel house. Lundy returned and the mate went into the captain’s cabin to call the captain and there was a crash as an axe came through a panel. Hill, in evidence, said that soon after Lundy took the wheel he found the ship off her course. The chart produced by Hill indicated a zig-zag course had been taken, and Hill said he found it impossible to get another bearing with Lundy steering. In evidence Lundy said the mate told him the ship was off its course and his reply was that he was bringing her back. After he was put off the bridge he saw an axe and the sight of it tempted him to threaten the third officer. In reply to the Magistrate, Lundy declared his mind was a biank fiom the time of the incident outside the wheelhouse until ne found himself in the captain’s cabin.