PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 105, 1 May 1909, Page 4

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

FROM PICTON

Arahura, fox Nelson, ithis day, J&t 6

p.m. Takapuna, for Nelson, Monday, at 8

p.m. Takapuna, for Wellington, Tuesday, at 5.30 p.m. Takapuna, for Nelson, Wednesday, at noon. Arahura, xm- Wednesday, at 5.30 p.m. .. Rotoiti, for New Plymouth, atea Onehunga, Wednesday, at 6 p.m. FROM BLENHEIM.

Opawa, for Wellington, Sunday, at 2

p.m. Blenheim, for Wellington, Monday, at 2.30 p.m.

The Opawa will attempt to cross inwards on to-morrow morning's tide.

The scow Oban, which has been responsible for the drowning of several of her crew at various times through capsizing, is again in commission after being laid up at Nelson for some considerable time. Capt. C. Gibson, well known locally as master of the ketch Result, is in charge of the Oban, and Mr D. Bonner, also well known in Blenheim as master of the wrecked ketch Pet, is mate. The vessel arrived in the river some days ago, and has been discharging timber from Havelock at Fawcett's wharf. Owing to the large quantity of produce awaiting shipment to Wellington/ the Qban has been chartered to convey it across till the bar improves sufficiently to 'enable the Blenheim and other steamers to work the port. Since the Oban last capsized and was condemned, her masts have been shortened and other top hamper removed, and in the opinion or her master and mate is now quite safe. "Of course," remarked the latter, "you can't always blame the vessel. When a scow is manned by scow-men she is a handy little vessel. I have reason to know the Oban, as I was in, her when she last capsized, an^ had to live for some hours on, * ncr bottom." The Oban sails '^ lington to-day, and sho^ arrive back here in about a Week, after paying a visit to West Wanganui.

The troubles of the - barque Cambusdoon, which put into Lyttelton some days ago, are by no means at an end, judging from present appearances. Captain Howes-has experienced some difficulty in securing sailors to make up his complement. He has engaged three men who were quite willing to ship in the barque, but he still requires two more.

The five men who are in gaol are, however, the chief cause of the trouble, and in connection with these a rather peculiar difficulty has arisen. They were sentenced to one month?s imprisonment, and were ordered to be put on board when the ship was ready to sail. One of them has expressed himself as willing to "turn to when the ship goes to sea provided he is supplied with" oilskins and sea boots to replace those which he sold when ashore last week. Another man is also willing to go, but states that he is suffering from heart trouble. The other three have refused point blank to work after they are put on board. They want to be paid off, and this Captain Howes was quite willing to do, but the authorities will not allow this to be done, a:nd say_ that the meat must go away in the ship. In support of their attitude, the authorities reply on Section 150 of the Shipping and Seamen Act, 1908, which ■reads ais follows:—"Where a seaman or apprentice engagedl in a for.eig.ngoing ship is 01? summary conviction committed to prison for a. term .not exceeding one month, and tihe ©hip is about to leave New Zealand, before the oxpiration of that term—(a) The Commissioner of Police shall cause such seaman to be taken (under cus-. tody) on board such ship, a<nd there delivered to the master within fortyeight hours before she sails,. a.nd' the xna&tw shall keep such seaman on { board under custody until the ship lias sailed."

eibly can to get the men to agree to turn to, and on Tuesday Captain Marciel, shipping master at Lyttelton, visited them in gaol, and pointed out the position to them', but all arguments were unavailing, and the thiree men, ivhq are foreigners, obstinately persisted in their determination not to turai-to. Two courses are open to Captain Howes, one of which is to keep the men in irons on board the barque after she has sailed until they are willing to turn to. This would mean that their work would add to that of the other sailors, and probably cause further discontent and trouble. The other course open to him is to tow to sea, and if the three men still refuse to work after the ship is outside the three-mile limit, to return once mora to port and have the men arrested on a charge of mutiny on the high ! seas, the penalty for which offence is twelve months' imprisonment. The latter course is the one generally chosen by a master placed in a similar position to Capt. Howes. Arrangements were made for the Cambusdoon to tow to sea on Thursday morning, when, if all goes well, she will resume her passage to Falmouth. The vessel is in good trim, and although deep in the water, is a good eleven inches "off her mark."