SMART WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 145, 20 June 1940, Page 9

SMART WORK.

PASSENGERS LANDED. AWAY WITHIN 15 MINUTES. PATHETIC SCENES ON WHARF. The arrival of the liner which brought back to Auckland the passengers and crew of the ill-fated Niagara, was witnessed by a small crowd of officials and nest of kin or friends, who had gathered on the Prince's wharf last night. The rescue ship dropped anchor in the stream about 7 p.nf., and after the Customs and police officers had carried out their formal duties the ship berthed at 9 p.m. The sad plight of the passengers and the crew was seen as soon as they came down the gangway. Many were 11; their night attire and were wrapped-up in blankets. Some were dressed and others partly dressed, while a few were barefooted. ■' Elderly passengers showed signs of shock and exposure and the strain which they had suffered. A number were carried ashore by officials and fellow passengers, and one woman fainted as she was walking into the Customs examination shed. The Niagara had on board a number of babies and small children. Mothers descended the gangway clutching them in their arms, greatly relieved to be safe on land again. A pathetic sight was the return of a Chinese'family. Father and mother and four young children were bound for Suva on the Niagara when the explosion occurred. They had no time to gather any clothing, and last night when they came down the gangway they -were wrapped in blankets. All were barefooted, but they were quickly taken away by Jklf. Andrew Chong in a motor car and billeted for the night with Chinese in the city.

The most popular form of attiro appeared to be pyjamas, over which an Most of the passengers did not have time to collect any of their belongings and lost everything they possessed. No suit cases were brought ashore.' The largest, proportion carried nothing, but a few managed to cram a few effects into small canvas bags. The loss of personal property meant nothing to the passengers, who were grateful to escape with their lives. Despite the loss of their ship and their belongings the crew, as is typical with British sailors, adopted a cheerful attitude. Most of them seemed more anxious to obtain another ship than to talk of what had happened to the Niagara. These wore the men who sang patriotic songs and succeeded in keeping up the spirits of the passengers. There was no - hold-up after the rescue ship had berthed. Within 15 minutes after the gangway had been lowered the passengers and crew had left the wharf in motor cars and omnibuses which had been provided to take them free to their hotels or homes. It was a smart piece of work. The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis," who had made arrangements to billet those without homes in the Grand and Waverley Hotels and Hotel Auckland, was present on the wharf with the town clerk, Mr. J. Moiling, and the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. E. T. Eeid. Mr. T. F. Anderson, secretary of the Auckland Seamen's Union, and Mr. R. F. Carew, secretary of the Cooks and Stewards' Union, expressed appreciation of the arrangements made by the Mayor. The firms which provided free, transport were Johnston's Blue Motors, the Waihi-Pacroa Transport Company, Gubb's-Motors, Limited, and White and Sons, Limited, while the National Service Movement provided a fleet of 4S motor care to take the passengers and crew to hotels and homes. Members of the movement also visited the hotels la-st night in order to compile a list of articles of clothing required. To-day the Red Cross Society and Victoria League ■will supply the. necessary clothing to passengers. ..