THE STEAMER PAPANUI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 6

THE STEAMER PAPANUI.

TROUBLE ON BOARD. FIREMEN REFUSE DUTY. The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Papanui, which left the Queenstreet Wharf on Thursday evening, bound to Napier and Southern ports, had to come to an anchorage in the, stream, owing to an unpleasantness between the firemen and the officers. It appears that one of the firemen got into trouble shortly before the start. It is alleged that he became abusive and assaulted an officer. He was then put in irons. The. ship was got into the stream, but when there it was found there was not enough steam to go on. The anchor was dropped. Some ten firemen had refused to work unless their mate was taken out of irons. The sequel to this incident was that a fireman mimed James Melvin was charged yesterday, before Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., with having unlawfully assaulted the second officer, and also with using obscene language, and James Kennedy was charged with unlawfully disobeying the, lawful commands of the commander of the Papanui, and also with combining with other firemen and trimmers to disobey orders, Mr. Skeltoii appeared for the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Mr. Lundon defended. Captain Weston, master of the ship Papanui, said that the vessel was supposed to leave Auckland for London, via the South, about live o'clock on Thursday. About half-past four o'clock lie heard Melvin use very foul language, and saw him struggling with the second officer. Tho man was very drunk. The vessel got away from the wharf, but it was found they had very little steam up. In consequence of a report he dropped anchor in the stream. lie (witness) got the firemen up. Kennedy acted as spokesman. They were asked if they intended to work, but they point-blank refused. He looked upon Kennedy as the ringleader, and thought the other men were afraid of him.

To .Mi-. Lundon:' He did not see any officer strike Melvin. Three, officers handled Melvin and endeavoured to quieten hint. lie ordered Melvin to be put in irons, which was done by the chief officer. Melvin was in irons until ten o'clock that morning, which was 17 hours. Mr. Lundon: When you interviewed tho firemen, did they not ask you to let-. Melvin out of irons? Someone said, "Let him out of irons." How many refused duty to you?— Ten men.

Harry Makepeace, chief officer, gave evidence as to the language used by Melvin, who was wauling to light everybody, lie. saw Melvin hit the second officer in the eye. Mr. Lundon: You know nothing about Kennedy?--Xo. He (witness) was instructed by the captain to put Melvin in irons while the boat was alongside the wharf. Witness instructed the second and third officers to help him put the man in irons. It was while endeavouring to put him in irons that the second officer was struck. ■ Frank Corbet t, chief engineer of the Papanui, corroborated the' evidence of the former witnesses as to the bad language. The men refused duty, and ho pleaded with them to go to work. He explained that it was mutiny, and he went and saw the captain. Kennedy acted as spokesman, and, amongst many things he said, was, I'll gc to gaol with Melvin, and I'll pay his fine." To the Magistrate: The point was that it was probable that had Melvin been taken out of irons there would have been no trouble. To Mr. Lundon: I have had no trouble with either of the men. brant Olphert, second officer, gave evidence as to being hit twice in the face, while endeavouring' to put the irons on M,-lvin. George Bowdcn. leading fireman, said lie was instructed by the men to tell the chief engineer that 'they would not work until .Melvin was taken out, of irons. Mr. Lundon: Did yon not tell the men that in your opinion Ihe man should not, have, been put in irons?-No. George Duii'r-y, fireman, also gave evidence.

Mr. Lundon submitted that the second officer had no authority to put Melvin in irons when the vessel'wa.s at the wharf, therefore he was justified in defending himself from the "attack" of the second officer. As to the obscene language, there had been no evidence that the language was heard by anyone on the wharf.' Mr. Kkelton: If they act in contravention of duty it is the duty of the captain to order a, man to lie put. in irons. On Iho suggestion of Mr. Lundon, the. magistrate deferred tin* question of a captain having a right to put- a. seaman in irons when the vessel was at' the wharf sine die, to give Mr. Lundon an opportunity of arguing it. Sergeant Williams, called for (he defence, said that when he went off to the boat, a, little after eight o'clock, lie asked Kennedy if he had refused duly, and in, replied, No, I have not."

Kennedy on oath said that a disturbance took place before ho went . aboard, lie was informed that Melvin was in irons, that some of the men would not turn-to, and the men asked him what he, intended to do, and he replied, " I am with von." Mr, liiindnn: It is suggested I lint you were, the ringleader. I was not. How much liquor did you have aboard when you went on the vessel?— About half a cargo. Melvin did not give evidence, as he staled lie knew nothing of the affair. The Magistrate said lie thought the men had refused duty. lie thought the men had protested against the action of the authorities in putting Melvin in irons. The protest, however, was not justified. Mr. Skellon informed the 'magistrate that the men were not wanted on board again,

Hie magistrate sentenced Kennedy to two days' imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently. Melvin received (he .same sentence.

two other men having been shipped, the I'apanui resumed her voyage last night.'