AN UNLUCKY BOAT

Feilding Star, Volume 3, Issue 554, 31 December 1925, Page 5

AN UNLUCKY BOAT

MANUKA AGAIN HELD UP

ONLY ONE MAN SHORT

(Press Association Telegram.) Dunedin, Dec, 30

A shortage in the crew of the Union Company’s inter-colonial passenger steamer ' Manuka was responsible for the vessel being hold up at Dunedin to-night. The vessel arrived at-8 n.m. to-day from Wellington, via Bluff, and was timed to sail at 4 pun. lor Lyttelton, Wellington and Melbourne. Two ordinary seamen signed off articles during the day, and the company’s represent.!’fives wern success In I in securing the services of only one man. Several members ol the stokehold, crew were rsliore when tho Manuka, was ready For sea shortly alter 1 p.m.. These men, however, returned about 6 p.m., but the ship was stijl short of her complement.

' The services of another ordinary seaman could not lie secured, and as flic, ship had missed tide her departure wa.s postponed until midnight. When a„ notice was posted up to this effect, many passangers and members of ilie crew spent tile evening ashore.

'file detention of (ho Manuka cannot lie attributed to job control oh this occasion, as the engineers stated last -light that all members of the stokehold crew, were accounted fur. The Manuka's draught would have prevented her from negotiating the harbour channel at dead low water. The Manuka has been held up at every port of call during The past lew weeks. .All those Imld-iips wore attributed to job-control She was de_ tained at, Melbourne on December 24 for four-hours owing to- several of the stokehold hands being absent from the' ship. ; ...

The vessel has over 115 through passengers from Melbourne on hoard and while the ship s detention is no fault of the company it is most inconvenient and annoying to travellers 'Hie Manuka was still at the wharf at midnight.

Dec. 31. The Manuka is expected to sail lo-