THEFT FROM CARGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18388, 2 May 1923, Page 11

THEFT FROM CARGO.

TWO SEAMEN SENTENCED.

SIX MONTHS' HARD LABOUR.

OFFENCE ON THE WAIWERA.

A salutary sentence for cargo broaching on the steamer Waiwera was imposed on two members of the crew by Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the. Police Court yesterday. Accused, George Frederick Kontze, aged 31, and Henry William Standen, aged 29, seamen, admitted hav- ! ing embezzled cargo valued at £14. the j property of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion | Company. The property stolen consisted of woollen, articles of ladies' wearing apparel aud dress material. Detective Gourley produced a statement signed by accused admitting the charge. The clothing was found secreted in a ventilator on the ship, which is ■; lying at the Queen's Wharf. In the state- | ment accused said they got up about 2.30 • a.m. on Sunday, took the hatch off one of the holds, and made their way through into another hold. They had a lighted (candle. They opened several cases, took .out various articles of ladies' clothing, : and closed the cases up again. Witness ! said all the property had been recovered. j Chief-Detective Mcllveney said this was I the first case of pillaging which had ocjcurred on this voyage of the Waiwera. _ i The magistrate said he regarded this as a very serious offence. Not only was trouble caused by theft, but there was the risk of the ship catching fire. He could not overlook the offence. Accused were each sentenced to six months' hard labour.