THE MAPOURIKA AND HER FIREMEN.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14513, 20 December 1912, Page 7

THE MAPOURIKA AND HER FIREMEN.

MORE TROUBLE AT NELSON.

VESSEL AGAIN "HELD UP."

(press association telegrams.) , WELLINGTON, December 19 The Mapourika, which had been "held up" in Wellington for thirty-two hours with her full complement of passengers, got away at midnight, the necessary firemen having been secured. NELSON, December 19. The 3lapourika, after a prolonged delay at Wellington wharf m connection with the demands of the stokehold crew, had her running further dislocated this afternoon, trouble from the same source being responsible for the vessel being "held up" at tho last minute prior to sailing. At 3 o'clock, the scheduled time ior sailing, when tho aft moorings had been cast off and the pilot was in charge, tho firemen aud trimmers left tho stokehold and went to the bridge, informing the captain that they would not stoko the vessel until another fireman had been obtained. It appears that one of their number had come on board under the influence of liquor and refused on any account to work in the stokehold. The crew consisted of _ three firemen and three trimmers, this providing a fireman and trimmer for each watch. The men contended that the absence of tho malcontent made tjieir work too sovftre, hence their demand for a new fireman. In tho meantime the vessel had been remoored. Tho captain and the local manager of the Union Company conferred with tho men. A difficulty presented itself, inasmuch as there was no fireman with a ticket to be found in Nelson, and the services of another trimmer were refused. No agreement was arrived at, and the sailing of the vessol with a large number of passengers for the Wost Coast was put off till 10 a.m. to-morrow. The Pukaki which sailed later took all tho perishable cargo.