BREACH OF THE POST OFFICE ACT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1477, 16 June 1879, Page 2

BREACH OF THE POST OFFICE ACT.

(Br Tblegbaph.) Auckland, June 14. Captain Carey, of the i.e. Rotorua, npprared at the Polios Court to-day m answer to eeveml charge*, which were virtually one c>'iirge, that he committed a breath of the Post Office Act by not carefully depositing the mails received i>n board m a safe place on the passago between Napier and Auckland, on the 24tli May. Captain Carey pleaded guilty. Mr Whitaker toid he appeared for Captain Cnrev. and hoped the Court would consider the Captain's trustworthy character, and impose as sinal' a fi.no ns po«-ib'o. Mr Brookfield. Crown Prosecutor, etate'"' thiv ca?e a* follows :—'' The charge, is laid under the 28th section of tho Post, Office Act of 185S, for iifot keeping the mails from Napier to Auckland m a srciifo place. The mail m quest on when landed here wa* tied, but not *ea!ed, and on being examined four registered letters were found to be missing. One of them contained a draft f<.r ±'30. payable to aMr Grant, of Onehunga. This came draft, was cashed at tho Union Bank here on the identification of Cuptain Carey, who signed the back of the draft, to a m«n iiumed Johnston, who had acted as assistant cook on board the R .torua. Tl.is man is proved to have left m the s.s. Zealandia for San Francisco. 'J ho fact, however, of an em ployee on board the Kotorua having cished a draft shows that he hod access to the moil during the voyage. Captain Caicy, of course, did not know what he wan signing, and thought that the rlruft was payaSle to the mini Johnston. The cuso was brought ngainet the Union Shipping Company, m order to prevent mails from being lumpered with m the future." Mr Brookfield Baid that he had been instructed by the Post master- General to press for n heavy fine, as this was not it chuige to much pgainßt Captain Carey as against the Union Shipping Company, who hod Bhown great neglect generally m not providing proper places for the eufe custody of mails. In numbers of instances comuJaints had been received from persons who had suffered losa m consequence of the neglect of vessels belonging to this Company. lhe Court imposed a fine of £25, with costs and witnesses' expenses, m all amounting to £68. The Siar ears : — 'Much sympathy will be felt for Captain Carey, who is one of the most, popular uuri cireful commanders m New Zeulnnd. His good nature and unsuspecting disposition were enti'ely the ciiute of hiß being victimised by the scoundrels who robbed the mail and levanted to 6Jnn Francisco. We hope that eomo testimonial showing tie c teem m which Iho worthy Captain is held by tho thousands who have travelled with him will be presented him. We are sure it only requires to be Bturted to elicit a general response."