State Library of NSW
[Page 155]
it had been noticed on the ship that the chief steward was adrift - I went ashore at 2 pm & the first prostrate form I saw on the pier was the aforesaid steward - His arduous duties on shore had overcome him & he was asleep on a form in a shed facing the landing stage - I had him sat up straight & presently a ray of returning consciousness be shone thro a cloud of imbecility & supported gently by 2 ABs he was put on the launch & returned inboard - This morng he & 3 others were had up – one had been adrift 30 hours over his leave - They all got their pay shortened by a fine & leave stopped for various periods -One has to have a vy blind eye where liberty is granted & the men mustered on their return so long as they can stand up they pass muster if the officer is at all sympathetic which he generally is - How to stop all this sort of thing passes Knowledge - The only thing is to take the men ashore & march them for 4 - 5 miles & don't let them fall out at all - After all this I went to the Hospital & put in
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