COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS CAUGHT.

NZ Truth, Issue 253, 30 April 1910, Page 7

COLLECTOR OF CUSTOMS CAUGHT.

Closes a Case too Quickly.

The Collector of Customs for the port of Dunedin got rather a shock on Monday, ,when, at the local police court, before Magistrate Bartholomew, lie proceeded against the owner of the ferry steamer Aiahena for having, on. Easter Monday, carried 208 passengers, while his certificate allowed him to carry only 250. The evidence was strong, although had a conviction followed, the defendant would probably have been dealt with m the lenient manner m which the master of the Waikana was ; but the trouble of defending the case was saved by Mr A. C. Hanlon, who appeared • for Francis James Sullivan,' who was named m the information as the owner of the vessel. The Collector (Mr Sibbald) put m a certificate to prove the number of passengers which the boat was licensed to carry ; but this certificate merely stated who was the master of the vessel and didn't say who the owner As soon as the Collector closed his case Mr Hart- ; lon got on, his feet and asked that the case, be dismissed f as there , was no evidence that Sullivan was the owner of the boat. The Collector : I have a certificate here which plainly sfctow^ th-at he is the owner. The S.M. : The case is dismissed without prejudice. . „ The Collector:'"! ask that defendant be put m the witness-box. The S.M. : The case is closed, and I can't take any notice of matters not before the court. ■ .■:■.. A couple of guineas for legal expenses wera . also allowed against the department by the S.M. -^ ' ■