THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 204, 1 September 1887, Page 5

THE SEAMEN'S STRIKE.

Three Opposition Steamers

Chartered.

The public, and even the Auckland seamen themselves,were becoming somewhat doubttul as to the earnestness of the Union: in their declaration that steamers Would be chartered to run in opposition to the Northern Steamship Company, owing to the prolonged delay in giving .practical effect to • that resolution. It. appears that the management at Port Chalmers came to the conclusion that the manner in which wo kept our readers ' posted, up •as to the progress of-' negotiations for the charter Of steamers .was detrimental to their interests, and; accordingly strict secrecy has .'been..of late observed with respect to all transactions. Matters have now, however, . been so far advanced that the Union is pre-^ pared to " show its hand," to. some extent at least, and we learn.., that negotiations for the charter of three steamers have been carried to a .successful issue. Mr Millar, Secretary of the Port Chalmers (head) branch of the Union, arrived here by the steamer, Wanaka to-day, and was interviewed by a Star, reporter. Mr Millar stated that matters were now working snioothly with the Union in. respect tbthestrikeagainstlowwage^ imposed by the Northern Company,, and although some difficulty had arisen with .respect to the charter of certain New Zealand owhed steamers, this had been overcome. There werej he said, some thirty ateamerß in Australia placed at the disposal of the Union, to pick and choose from. They, required three,' and selected the Collaroy, Coonambarra, and a New Zealand steamer. ~ ,

The Coonambarraisah iron paddlesteamer of 901 tons gross,'and 667 tons net, register, and her dimensions are 223,2x27'2x 12-7. Her engines are 240 h.p. She was built at Blackwall in 1862,' and is owned by the Newcastle Steam-Shipping Company, Limited. The Collaroy is an irou paddle steamer of 419 tons tons gross, and 264 tons net register, and her engines one 140 h.p. Her dimensions are 180-9 x 233 x Hi; She was built at Liverpool in 1859, and is owned by Mr John Robertson, of Sydney. The Collaroy, according to the " Shipping Register," was wrecked in January, 1881, and recovered iv September, 1884. • - ■ • '

The Coonambarra was to have loaded coal at Newcastle, and left for Auckland" about this date, and the Collaroy was co have followed ' her as speedily as possible. The former steamer is intended for the Wharigarei trade, now run by the s.s. Wellington, and the Collaroy for tho trade between this port, Russell, WhangarOa, and MongpnUi, now run by the s. s. Clansman.

The third steamer is to run in opposition to the B.s. Gairloch in the Waitara trade, but concerning this vessel the Union desire to say very . little at present, except that she will be in readiness to take up the trade from tlie Manukau end next week. It is rumoured that tho Stormbird is the " dark horse." She is at New Plymouth to day, and due to arrive in the Manukau about Saturday next. The Stormbird is an iron screw steamer of 94 tons register, and her dimensions are 130"3 x 19 6 x 8-8. She was built at Whiteinch, Lan. in 1854, and is owned by C. Seager and others of Wellington. . Air Millar has come up to this port to appoint agencies and make other arrangements for the regular running of these three steamers all of which lie expects will be in active work here within a very brief space of time. Ho has no intention of offering to re-open negotiations . with tho Northern Steamshp Company for settlement of the strike, and any fur thee dealings with.that body must come from them. The Union have no doubt as to tho outcome of the Struggle now fully entered upon and have made arrangements for the owners of tlie. steamers' now chartered to continue in. the coastal trade here after the Northern Steamships . Company have . been | rur>~ -off. The latter of course do not recognise the possibility of such a conclusion, and intend to carry out the course already indicated in the management of their-.steamers and payment of seamen. ~