6 Months' Gaol
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
For "Theft of a Puppy"
From Our Own Correspondent
Nukualofa, Oct. 22.
MR. C. S. RAMSAY, famous through out the Pacific as the “Tin Can Mailman”, and who returned to Tonga a year ago, was convicted before the Chief Police Magistrate, Mr. W. H.
Stuart, to-day and sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment for the theft of a puppy, the property of a Tongan boy named Sikini Mu’a.
The evidence disclosed that the puppy wandered away and got into Mr. Ramsay’s home. Mr. Ramsay confessed in Court to having a “soft spot” for all animals and was moved to compassion by the pitiful under-nourished condition of the puppy.
He fed and took care of it for about three weeks, and he had sharp words with the animal’s owner, when the latter eventu ally found and claimed it. However. Mr.
Ramsay, who was represented by a young Tongan lawyer, Hale Vete, failed to con vince the Court that his intention was good. The Court records revealed that he had a previous conviction ('fined £lO for supplying intoxicating liauor to natives several years ago).
The sentence is now suspended pend ing an appeal by Mr. Ramsay to the Privy Council.
Mr. R. F. Field, of Port Moresby, is now in the AIF. his address being PXI9, E Company, Grovely Training Depot, Brisbane, Queensland.
Mrs. F. R. Charlton wife of the Dir ector of Lands, Mines and Surveys in Fiji, died in Suva in October.
Mr. Thomas Bilton, of Teopasino Plantation, Bougainville, NG, died in Namanula Hospital, Rabaul, in October, aged 47. After serving in the Great War with the British Army, he went to the Solomon Islands; and later in the service of Choiseul Plantations, Limited he managed plantations in various parts of New Guinea.