The shipping companies have taken steps to put a stop to wholesale desertions from their steamers, and when offenders have been caught a month's imprisonment has usually been their lot, at all events in Lyttelton.
Occasionally, however, the deserting seaman is a decent, sober, and respectable man, and his case presents some extenuating circumstances, and it appears hard that he should be sent to gaol to herd with criminals.
A case in point came before the Lyttelton Police Court this morning, when a neatly-dressed, respectable-looking young fellow was charged with having deserted from the Remuera at Wellington on April 5.
He pleaded guilty, but stated that his lot on board the steamer had not been a pleasant one, as a number of the men with whom he had refused to associate, owing to their rough, drunken habits, had made matters so warm for him that he had asked the captain to transfer him to another steamer.
This request had been refused, and in order to escape from the unpleasantness in the forecastle he had deserted.
Since that time he had been in constant employment as a trimmer on the Mokoia. Captain R.
Hatchwell, representative of the New Zealand Shipping Company, said he had to press the charge, as there had been so many desertions lately.
The Remuera was in London, and would not be sailing for New Zealand until the 20th inst.
The presiding justice said he was sorry for the young man, but he had no option but to sentence him to one month's imprisonment.
• A start is shortly to be made with the erection of a new orchid house at the Botanic Gardens.
The cost of the building is being provided for partly out of the proceeds of the recent garden fete, and the balance is being covered by a grant from the City Council.
The house will be 60ft in length and 20ft in width, and will be divided into two sections - tropical and cool.
The site has been admirably chosen, as the house will practically form an additional wing to the Winter Garden, and, besides enhancing its appearance, will serve to shut out from view the somewhat unsightly brick stoke-house nearby.
The question of where to obtain the supply of orchids to stock the house is at present exercising Mr Tannock's mind.
There is a collection in New Zealand which could possibly be obtained, but nothing has as yet been decided on.
- ODT, 17.7.1912.
