WITHOUT A CREW

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 86, 6 January 1926, Page 9

WITHOUT A CREW

TAHITI’S REMARKABLE TRIP FROM SYDNEY OFFICERS AND ENGINEERS WORK VESSEL NEW CREW JOIN AT WELLINGTON The ■ Union Steam Ship Company’s R.M.S. Tahiti, which arrived at Wellington on Monday morning, accomplished the possibly unparalellcd feat for a mail steamer, of making the trip from Sydney without a crew. The ship carried neither greasers nor sailors; being an oil-burner she docs not require firemen. This unprecedented performance was due to the trouble with her crew in Sydney. The men had demanded such terms before they would proceed with the Tahiti that it was decided to put to sea without them. With a little assistance the officers and engineers managed to bring the steamer to Wellington after a smart run of three days nine hours, despite rough weather. Trouble occurred at Sydney, mainly owing to the crew complaining about tl.j quality of their Christmas dinner. They contended that their victualling had I not been up to standard, and the Christmas dinner, in particular, was not in keeping with the occasion. It was pointed out to them that they had little or nothing to complain about on that score. However, they were promised a specially fine dinner for New Year's Day and that nothing would be left undone within reasonable bounds. The Tahiti was to sail at noon on Thursday, but before that hour the crew had demanded that the chief steward be replaced. As this was considered unreasonable in view of the fact that, the men had no good grounds for complaint against him, their demand was refused. Just as the Tahiti was about to leave the wharf the crew let a rope ladder down over the side of the ship, and 31 sailors and greasers climbed down to the wharf, leaving the vessel completely unmanned excepting by deck officers and engineers. Captain Aidwell, however, decided to shift the Tahiti out to an anchorage. The ship s officers cast off the lines and the engineers, standing to their posts, the vessel was taken to an anchorage in Watson’s Bay. The afternoon was spent in fruitless negotiations with the men, and eventually, as a settlement appeared impossible, it was decided that the ship should proceed to sea without the men. There happened to be on board, as passengers, a former captain of the Union Co.’s service and two officers who were coming across to Wellington. These agreed to assist the captain and officers in working the vessel. A former doctor of one of the company’s San Francisco mail steamers consented to assist the engineer bv actim’ as a greaser At 10.45 p.m. on Thursday the Tahiti left her anchorage, and proceeded to sea. A strong southerly breeze and confused sea were encountered throughout the run across to Wellington. The fact that the vessel is an oil-burner disposed of any difficulty that would have arisen had- she been a coal burner and without trimmers and firemen. By observing long watches the officers and engineers managed to carry out their duties satisfactorily, and the vessel made a smart passage. Further trouble was experienced at Wellington, when endeavours were made to procure a new crew It was soon evident that men were not forthcoming readily to take the. places of the thirty-one left behind in Sydney. The Union Company officials were faced with the possibility of a mail steamer, with a considerable number of passengers, being held up hc.e. Negotiations were opened up with representatives of the men. and eventually, ■after certain concessions had been made on both sides, sufficient number of sailors and. greasers were available to give the Tahiti her full complement. Late yesterday afternoon all hands signed on the ship’s articles and she sailed at 8.15 p.m. for Rarotonga, Papeete, and San Francisco. As the Tahiti pulled out her whistle was sounded, and owing to mischance it jammed, with the result that she left the upper harbour whistling lustily.