CREW REFUSES DUTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19235, 26 January 1926, Page 8

CREW REFUSES DUTY.

STEAMER FORCED TO RETURN. FOUR PASSENGERS LANDED. VOLUNTEERS FROM ARAWA. [BY telegraph.—own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Excitement was caused on the waterfront this evening when the steamer Ngaio, which left her berth for Nelson at 8.10, was observed to stop just after clearing the wharf and commence signalling with a Morse lamp to the Harbour Board tower. The purport, of the signals was evidently an intimation of the captain's intentiou to bring his boat alongside again, and she was made fast.

It seems that the cause of the trouble lay in the fact that four members of the volunteer crew which took the Arawa Home were on board the vessel, proceeding to their homes in Nelson. Just, as the ship was pulling out the crew got wind of the presence on board of the Arawa volunteers, and decided not to take the vessel to sea until the men were put ashore.

The captain of the Ngaio had no alternative but to put his ship about and place the passengers cam-erncd ashore. As soon as the Ngaio had made fast the Arawa men jumped to the wharf, eyed by an interested audience, which had by now assembled. Their luggage was handed out to them, and they soon made off. A few moments later, at 9 p.m., the Ngaio backed out and resumed her trip to Nelson.

WAIKOTJAITI HELD UP. DEMAND FOR MORE TRIMMERS. fBY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CIIRISTC HURCII. Monday. " The Union Company's Waikouaiti has been held up since Wednesday awaiting a crew. The company's call met with no response, the men demanding that three extra, trimmers bo signed on, which tho company declined. A further effort to secure a crew to-day was unsuccessful.