CHIPS ON EMIGRATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 1205, 2 January 1875, Page 16

CHIPS ON EMIGRATION.

Another clever capture of a deserting seaman was effected on Tuesday by the Port Chalmers Police. In the morning an information for deserting was laid against David Campbell, the carpenter of the Auckland, by Captain Stevens, of that ship, and a warrant was issued for his apprehension. Armed with this authority, the Police, with Sergb. Neil at their head, went in search of the man, and influenced by information received, they first proceeded to the barque Record, which had left the Railway Pier in the morning and was lying in the stream ready for sea. "No such man on board" was the prompt rejoinderto the enquiries made by the iSergeant when he boarded her. This of course could scarcely be accepted as an acquittance in full of all demands, and so the Sergeant called the Constables up and instituted a close search for the levanter. The barque was ransacked fore and aft to no purpose, the cabin was searched, and doubts about the man being on board after ail were dawning upon the baffled Constables, when the attention of one of them was attracted to a sleeping berth in the cabin which had been passed again and again and escaped notice. " This door is locked," remarked the Constable, giving the handle a shake. " Yes," replied the steward of the ba que, "The captain locked it before he went to town, and took the key with him." "All right," said the Sergeant "shouldn't doubt but that he did j still, we must have a look inside." At this juncture, a smothered noise inside was heard. "Open the door at once," said the Sergeant, "or we burst it in." And then the door was unlocked from the inside, and opened, and then, "softly blushing." stood the man the Police were after. "Awkward, eh?" said the Sergeant, with sententious brevity ; "Come along," and the man came. We shall not prejudice the case by stating that Campbell's carpenters' tools and his clothes were found on board the Record.