THE FERRY SERVICE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14822, 13 November 1913, Page 11

THE FERRY SERVICE.

MAPOURIKA ARRIVES AND SAILS.

ANOTHER VOLUNTEER CREW.

The Mapourika, which left Wellington at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, was delayed by a strong southerly gale, which lasted until 10 o'clock yesterday morning, and which prolonged her passage to nearly 21 hours.

When the steamer came into port at 4.50 p.m. there was a crowd of about 150 to meet her. CERTIFICATED DECK HANDS. The Mapourika, which was commanded by Captain Cameron, had only about sixty passengers. She was manned by volunteer officers and engineers, and a number of Arbitrationists. Her deck hands included two well-known masters, one of whom was at the wheel and the other assisting in the mooring operations. Another master was acting third mate.

COUNTRY SAI_ORS. The Mapourika, skilfully handled by Captain Cameron, waa berthed in ten minutes. There was complete silence amongst the crowd until two solidlybuilt young fellows; plainly from the country, who were assisting mooring operations aft, were sighted. They came in for some "barrack," and there were ironical cheers when, owing to some turns in one of the heavy lines, they had some difficulty in getting the rope to tho warping winch... "Get back to the bails," "You ought to be milking cows," "Thare's sheep on the hills for you to look after," were some of the remarks thrown at them. They- went on with their work . quietly, and completely ignored tho taunts of the crowd, whose feeble attempts at humour fell very flat. Some of the certificated members of the crew were targets for cheap humour, but they took .'no notice. Two young fellows, members of the crew, went to the ship's rail and quietly surveyed ■" tho crowd, who implored them to "come put of it and be men." They made no move to do so, and their .quiet smiles annoyed the small mob on the wharf.

THE RETORT COURTEOUS. There were cries of "Scabs" and loud-tongued threats of what would happen to them if they could be got at. "You will'be-branded as 'scabs' from Auckland to the Bluff" they were assured.

"You won't, work, bo run v away and leave us to work," one.of. t-hetn. replied. This answer greatly incensed one man, who boasted that he would go. on board and deal with them, until he was warned'bv a policeman to behave himself .- - '- -"'

COALING. SHIP. . : As .soon as the ship was clear of her passengers the hulk was.hauled alongside and coaling 4 started by the Union Company's permanent men. The extremists shouted •'scabs"..at them, and vainly urged them to come but of the ship. -Most of the crowd'left aa soon as the train moved:off the wharf, but ,the larrikin element, stayed for a while, shouting silly Remarks' at A members of the ship's crew.' ; , - .-; • THE.SHIP'S COMPLEMENT. Captain. Cameron-stated that in addition to two .regular officers of the ship, his, crew-; comprised four.:masters, two officers, and.fourrArbitrat-o-ists as deck hands, nine engineers,' and nine Arbitrationists in the engine-room department,- and half-a-do_en stewards.. The weather was fine r when the ship.-:left Wellington, but at 10.30 p.m. she ran into; a] very, strong southerly gale, and high seas, which for .twelve -hours. "The landsmen in the stokehold had very much from sea-sick-ness, but.hey did their .very best,, and the-.engineers cheerfully .helped them through their work. Three or four engineers, and several stewards signed on in.the Mapourika for 'the -return trip. The steamer, had, over 100 tons of coal oh board,-but ah extra 25 tons was shipped, by the permanent men before 7 o'clock. There was not a very largo mail: to ship,.; and the passenger bookings were not very heavy. :. l A QUIET CROWD.: Towards sailing time a large crowd. assembled on the wharf, but most of them appeared to be present out of idle curiosity.) Thero was a fair sprinkling of .the extreme section of the strikers and firemen. To prevent any possible trouble, the police force on the wharf was increased to about twenty men, and shortly before the train arrived thoy cleared the wharf in- the immediate vicinity of-.tho ship. SAT DOW2i SUDDENLY. One man dodged inside the line of police, and declined to go back; when ordered -to do so.. - He told tho policeman .who' confronted him that he would stay where he was, but received a rude -hock, and sat down hard on the wharf, when the constable pushed him. He became very angry when forced back into the crowd, and boasted that hewould deal severely with the, constable if he got him withouthis uniform. He not be pacified by his mates, and continued his loud talk until the ship left. "THE GRAMOPHONE." It was amusing to hear the warnings, of some'of the mob, when.a discussion arose that the reporter of "The Press" —or "gramophone," as some of tho men called him —was standing near, and would be "putting them _in the paper.'". Several of them exhibited an insatiable desire to know what was going .to be written about the proceedings, and one man, evidently a fireman, assumed a threatening attitude, both in talk and action, towards the representative of "The.Press," until warned by the police that he. would get into trouble if he did not keep quiet.

The crowd were, however, very quiet and well-behaved; The mails and luggage were soon- on board, and the Mapourika sailed-at 8.20 p.m., a few of the strikers contenting themselves with modest pheers for the Federation of Labour steamer moved off. PATEENA DUE THIS MORNING.

The Pateena left Wellington last night, arid is due at Lyttelton between 9 and 10. o'clock this mornihg. She will sail on the return trip on arrival of the 7.40 p.m. train. - . .

MANUKA TO GO NORTH TO-NTGHT.

The Manuka, due early this morning from Melbourne, via Hobart, Bluff, and Dunedin, will sail for Sydney via Wellington, on arrival of, the 5.25 p.m. train. •■ . -