THE FIRRY SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 17047, 19 May 1919, Page 4

THE FIRRY SERVICE

MAORI PROBABLY RESUME TO-DAY. Officials at fcho head office of the Union Company stated to-day that there was every indication of the Maori securing a full complement of firemen, and it was hoped to despatch the vessel from Wellington to-night fox - Lyttelton. The Monowai, which made the ferry run from Lyttelton on Saturday night, arrived at Wellington at 1.30 p.m. yesterday. She will sail this evening lor Lyttelton, and in the event of the Maori not sailing will cany the North Island mails. The Monowai will probably leave Lyttelton to-morrow for Dunedin.

The Wellington 'Times' states that the Maori was unable to leavo Wellington last Wednesday evening owing to inability to secure seven firemon to fill vacancies caused by men who signed off the articles on Wednesday. Four trimmers also signed off the articles, but their places wore subsequently filled. The Maori could have sailed with three men short of her full complement by disconnecting one boiler; but the Government inspector of seamen was unable to secure enough men to obtain oven this end. There is snid to be a grievance against the ship, and various accusations were made on Wednesday against conditions obtaining in the stokehold. The Maori was almost three hours and a-half lata in arriving at 'Wellington Wednesday morning from Lyttelton owing' to stokehold troubles. THE MARAROA FUMIGATED. A Press Association telegram from Christchurch states that the Mararoa, which arrived at Lyttelton nt 1.55 p.m. yesterday, was held up at Wellington on Saturday night owing to the firemen refusing to sail until the vessel was thoroughly fumigated, one of the men from the stokehold having been removed to the hospital on Saturday suffering from disease, supposed to be influenza. The Health officers boarded the Mararoa at. Lyttelton yesterday, and gave the crew inhalation treatment. Other preventive measures against the spread ef the disease were also taken.