THE MUTINY ON H.M.S. EGERIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 15

THE MUTINY ON H.M.S. EGERIA.

CPE.! Pjikss Association.) Sydney, April 2(i. 11. M.5. Egeria has arrived from a surveying cruise. Only a few of the sailors have been allowed on shore, the others being confined to the ship — some on duty, the remainder for punishment. Some of the prisoners are in irons. The disaffection commenced after the new crew was shipped. The men considered they were being harshly dealt with, the wonder being amongst themselves that the yoke was borne so quietly. On the voyage to Auckland the tyranny under which the men allege they suffered became more marked, and in Auckland ib culminated in open mutiny. The row in a hotel in Auckland formed part of the mutiny, but the men state that could easily have been settled. The real trouble followed after that. Fourteen or 15 of the ringleaders of the mutiny will be tried by court martial, and a court of inquiry will be held into the action of the captain and senior lieutenant. It is asserted that the captain committed a breach of the navy regulations in a'lowing the lieutenant 100 much power, and tbe crew alleged that the latter officer aroused the rebellious spirit of the men.

Auckland, April 29. In regard to the alleged mutiny on the Egeria, it appears that whilst the vessel was io

Auckland there were vague rumours that the men we ■>. dissatisfied. As for the row in tha Thames. Hotel, Auckland, which is said to be part of tho mutiny, the facts show that it was nofc of much magnitude. On the night before their arrest the ra^n were at the hotel singing and drinking, but when the police came next morning about 10 o'clock t,ho men were in the sitting room. There were Jl of them. When the constable came the entrance door was wide open, not barricaded as represented, and when the police entered one of tbe latter upset a table on which there were some glasses. The men submitted quietly, one remarkiug that he had been expecting the police, but they made no resistance and marched off quietly. No furniture was broken, but a little half door over which liquor is served into the sitting room, and which was secured by a nail instead of a lock, was pushed open in the crush. The men had a grievance against First Lieutenant Helby, who, they said, gave them unnecessary work, keeping thorn at it from 4 o'clock in tho morning until late at night. It was on Good Friday that matters came to a climax. The men were brought ashore to church, and amongst those so sent were some of those who had previously been sent on board by tho police and picket. When they returned on board they were ordered to go t i work, but refused on the ground that Good Friday was a public holiday snd should be observed as Sunday. In fact, th-^y refused duty, and the first lieutenant called them to tbo quarter-deck, They refused to go, and the petty officers were ordered to bring them forward, but they said they were too few for this service. However, on the captain sending an order forward, the won at once obeyed. What transpired afterwards is nob known, as the Egeria left port early on Saturday.