POSITION IN WELLINGTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9292, 29 April 1920, Page 5

POSITION IN WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, April 28. Events in connection with the railway strike have been quite orderly. Trains ran to schedule time last night, but at the end of the shifts the engines were run into the sheds, the iires drawn and the engines left. The Main Trunk train arrived this morning three-quarters of an hour late owing to stops to pick up suburban traffic.

Only one train left Lambton to deal with the suburban traffic on the Hutt line this morning. It carried workers to the meat works at Ngaliauranga and Petone, and to Petone Workshops, and was manned by the running foreman and locomotive Jbreman, with a headquarters employee as fireman. Outside Petone the train was held up a quarter of an hour by signals, but was then allowed to proceed. Prior to leaving Petone later for Wellington, the people boarding it werevbarracked for travelling on a "black" train, and as a result about fifty left it. A small train left Thorndon for Johnsonville this morning to bring in suburban passengers. This was also manned by emergency hands. It; is reported that this train was held up at Ngaio by a refusal to give it the necessary tablet, but there is nothing official about this incident.

Red Cross vans and other motor vehicles are bringing milk to the city from the Hutt Valley. 'Buses are running between Hutt, Petone and Wellington for the conveyance of business people, but only one such 'bus was available for the run from Johnsonville to town.

One effect of the strike is the notable increase. of the market price of produce. Potatoes, which sold yesterdaj' at £9 per ton, £15 to-day. By irrangement with the postal authorities the Union• Company will run the Arahura between' Wellington .and Onehunga. ' The steamer will leave each port twice a week. She will carry mails and have accommodation ■for 200 passengers.