DEPARTURE OF MAHENO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19730, 1 September 1927, Page 9

DEPARTURE OF MAHENO

LIVELY SCENE ON WHARF. CREW DISLIKE PHOTOGRAPHER. A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Aug. 31. The settlement of the tiouble on the Maheno yesterday was reached when three of the stewards requested that they be discharged. This course was agreed tc by the captain and the remainder of the men intimated that they were willing to sail. The positions of these three men were not filled. The vessel was scheduled to depart at 5 p.m., but at 10 minutes after that hour a motor-car containing five of the firemen drew up at the gangway, and, without warning, one fireman dealt a blow at a camera in the hands of a photographer. The camera fell to the wharf and the plates were scattered about. A policeman asked the fireman his name, and the crew of the Maheno, who were leaning over the rail, immediately declared that if the fireman were arrested the boat should not sail. As no notice was taken of them they filed off the ship. The men were then told that the fireman would sail witli them. They then went aboard again and the gangway was lowered and the ship moved away. As site moved off, a seaman throw a largo potato at the photographer, who was still presenting his camera toward the men. Then followed a volley of potatoes from the oilier members of the crew. Fortunately not many people were on the wharf, but the missiles fell among then-, and Mr. Gray, the assistantmanager of tho Union Company> was struck on • the licad and liis hat was knocked off.