MAHENO GETS AWAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 August 1927, Page 9

MAHENO GETS AWAY

WARRANTS UNNERVE STRIKERS

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

SYDNEY, August 31. A squad of police marched to the wharf to-day, where the Maheno was moored, to execute the warrants against the forty-nine strikers. The latter, at a hurriedly convened meeting, decided to return to work, and so the vessel sailed at six in the evening. The police state that the warrants will now r be withdrawn. PHOTOGRAPHER ASSAULTED. SYDNEY. August 31. A settlement of the Maheno trouble was reached when three stewards requested that they be discharged. This course was agreed to by the captain, and the remainder of the men intimated they were willing to sail. The positions of the three men were not filled.

The vessel was scheduled to depart at five o’clock, but ten minutes after that hour a motor car, containing five firemen, drew up at the gangway, and without warning one fireman dealt a blow at a camera in the hands of a photographer. It fell to the wharf, and the plates scattered about. A policeman asked the fireman’s name, and the Maheno’s crew, who were leaning over the rail, immediately declared that if the fireman was arrested, the boat would not sail. As no notice was taken, they filed off the ship. They were then told the man would sail with them, so they went aboard again.

The gangway was lowered, and the ship moved away. As she did so, a seaman threw a large potato at the photographer, who was still presenting a camera towards the men. Then followed a volley of potatoes from other members of the crew. Fortunately, not many people were on the wharf, but the missiles fell among them, and Mr .Gray, assistant manager of the Union Company, was struck on the head and his hat knocked off.

RIVERINA REFLOATED.

SYDNEY, August 31.

Smooth seas enabled a quantity of coal to be taken aboard the stranded steamer Riverina, and the vessel now lies awaiting a favourable tide. A channel is formed where she formerly lay. The bank of sand on which she is resting is fast being eroded by the sea. The ship has been moved 220 feet forward from her original position.