"HARBOUR LIGHTS."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11151, 25 August 1899, Page 3

"HARBOUR LIGHTS."

POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS. At the Auckland Police Court yesterday morning, before His Worship Mr. T. Hutchison, S.M., four defendants were convicted of failing to comply with the Harbour Board's regulation No. 9, in the matter of keeping a light burning on their vessels from sunset to sunrise. The informations were laid by tlm secretary of the Harbour Board (Mr. J. M. Brigham), while Mr. Campbell appeared for the prosecution on behalf of the Board. Peter Ohlsen was charged that he did fail to keep a light burning on the coal hulk Caberfeidh from sunrise to sunset. It appeared from the evidence that the hulk belonged to the Union Steamship Company. The light was burning well up to nine o'clock in the evening, and went out afterwards. Previously there had been no complaint against the Union Company.

Mr. Campbell said he did not press for a heavy penalty. The caretakei of the hulk had not been in the habit of sleeping on board, but was in future to stay on board all night. He expected that the regulation would be complied with in future. A fine of £2, with costs £1 16s, was inflicted.

Thomas Broadwood was next charged with failing to keep a light burning on the ship Veritas in compliance with the regulation. Mr. Gillies, for the defence, pleaded guilty. He said the only way they could account for the light going out was that it had been put out by someone unauthorised. Since, the night in question the company had taken the precaution against it not occurring again, by keeping a man on board at nights. Mr. Campbell said the company had been warned by the harbourmaster (Captain Duder) before proceedings had been taken. His Worship recorded a conviction, and imposed a fine of £2, with costs £116s. David John Shaw, master of the ship Linda Weber, and William Scurrah, master of the ship Eleanor, were each fined for committing similar offenoes, the former £2 and costs £1 and the latter £& with costs £114s.