Song"

"Wine, Women and Song"

Unruly Seamen In A French Port

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, June 10.

VERY unpleasant incidents were asso ciated with the visit to Papeete recently of the British steamer Nemiskan Park. She came to take on water and provisions before going to Makatea to load phosphates. Members of the crew got out of hand, with an orgy of wine, women and song.

Customs officials caught the crew red handed smuggling cigarettes and cloth ing ashore, and the ship was fined 13,000 francs (about £BO Australian).

That evening the angry crew began throwing lumps of phosphate, pieces of wood and other rubbish from the rail of the ship at people walking ashore—in this port, ships are tied up close to a main thoroughfare. Police were sum moned and other officials gathered.

There were furious exchanges. A bucket of potato peelings, thrown savagely from the side of the ship, missed Customs Officer Bremond by inches. The out raged French officials appealed to the captain and officers, and the latter stop ped the demonstration.

Next day, there were more ugly scenes and the British Consul, Mr. Henderson, had a long discussion with the members of the unruly crew. The crew demanded another night ashore, and a pay advance of £1 each, and this was agreed to.

In the course of their farewell demon stration, some of the crew got into holts with soldiers who had been brought down to the wharf to prevent disorder, and were pretty badly hurt.

The ship sailed the following morning for Makatea, leaving very unpleasant memories in Papeete.