MOERAKI AT SYDNEY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11366, 13 November 1922, Page 5

MOERAKI AT SYDNEY

SAILING CANCELLED MEMBERS OF WAIKAWA’S CIIEW ARRESTED. NO TROUBLE WITH ULIMAROA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. (Received November 12, 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 11. The sailing of the Moeraki has been cancelled. All passengers, luggage, and perishable cargo have been transferred from Neutral Bav in feniees to the shore. The mails are still on the steamer in expectation that the dispute will soon be settled. Otherwise they will be transferred to the Uiimaroa, which is expected to sail for New Zealand on Saturday. As the crew of the Uiimaroa is on Australian articles, no trouble is anticipated Thirty-one members of the crew oi the Waikawa were arrested, and will be charged with refusing duty. They will appear at court on Monday.

ORMONDE IN TROUBLE TUGS REFUSE! TO WORK. By Teleproph.—Pross A«an. —Copyright. FREMANTLE, November 10. . The Ormonde has not entered the harbour, in consequence of the crews of the tuga refusing to handle the vessel as a protest against the vessel carrying inter-St.ato passengers without paying Australian rates of wage*?. ON THE WAKATU “A SPLENDID PASSAGE” JUST A CHANGE OF STEAMERS. In a dismal steady rain the small coastal steamer Wakatn, 157 tons, drew slowlv up to her berth at the Glasgow wharf at 6.45 o’clock last evening when she arrived at Wellington as the mail steamer from Uyttelton. The vessel’s passenger's crowded the upper deck, and among them were visible four ladies. Taxi-cab proprietors seemed to have been unaware of the little steamer’s expected arrival, and there were only three motor-cars waiting on the wharf. The passengers who were approached by a “New Zealand Times” representative said they had experienced a splendid passage. The sea all the way from Lyttelton was almost calm, a slight easterly swell being just perceptible, and there was no wind though showers were occasional. Everyone on hoard had a comfortable berth; certainly not as luxurious as on the four thousand tonner Wahine, but quite satisfactory. The little dining cabin was not large enough to accommodate the thirty-one passengers simultaneously, but the difficulty was met by arranging two sittings for each meal. The lady passengers had the attendance of Mrs Williams, a stewardess of the Wahine, alio had signed off that vessel’s articles at Lyttelton on Saturday, and was returning to her home in Wellington. Captain I). Robertson, of the Wakatu, had also done his utmost to make all comfortable on board. The trip was go smooth that only one passenger, a jockey, had missed a meal, but he stated he was always a bad sailor. THE PASSENGERS. The Wakatu’s passengers comprised: Mesdam.es Young, Maney, Washer, Williams, Messrs Maney, . Washer, Steel, Maine, Moore, McLean, Morris, Handley, Hampston, Sutton, Adams, Malm, Roulstou, McKenzie, Watte, Turnbull, Sullivan. Sheehan, B. L. Joll, Donaldson, McDonald, McSweeney, McCrumb, Gaffney, Whyte, Heap, and Lieutenant Piggott, lt.N. The passqngers were much relieved to escape being detained indefinitely in the South Island. They said that ajll iwho went to Lyttelton to get a passage to Wellington were able to get away by the Wakatu. Scores in Christchurch did not know of the opportunity the Wakatu offered, and were puzzled as to how they would be able to get back to 'Wellington. Many talked of proceeding overland to Picton and there engaging large oil launches to run them across Cook Strait to Wellington. It is probable then, that unless these people arc able to get passage by boat from Lyttelton, oil launches from Picton will be turning up at Wellington within the next few days. Captain Robertson, of the Wakatu, informed a “N.Z. Times” representative that his crew all belong to Lyttelton, and fhe vessel will sail this evening on the return trip. The men will probably give notice to quit on arrival at the southern port. The Wakatu made a smart run for a vessel of her size, occupying only 20 hours from “full-speed” at Lyttelton to “stand-by” at Well ington. The Wakatu brought 310 hags and hampers of mails, and 57 tons of flour to be sent a-wav by train, and 16 tons of bran and pollard for Laery and Co-, and Gaudin and Son, both of Wellington. WAKATU’S NEW ROLE MEN COMPLAIN OF MILITANT SECTION. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, November 12. The little steamer Wakatu left Lyttelton for Wellington at 10.20 o’clock last nightp taking twenty-nine passengers and about fifty tons of mails and f>7 tons of much needed flour. . Thei e was considerable competition for the coveted 29 bertha. The turf was well represented, several owners and jockeys being anxious to got back to the North Island. The passengers included Mr A, E. Whyte, secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, Mr R. A. McKenzie, owner of Kilgour, M( Milne, manager of the Wellington Meat Export Company, McDonald and McSweeney, the jockeys, andf Lieutenant Piggott, of H.M.S. Chair ham. Quite a crowd gathered on the wharf to see the little vessel olf, and there was much good-natured chaff and facetious advice as she pulled oat. It is expected the Wakatu’s crew will give notice at Wellington to-mor-row. So far the Canterbury Shipping Company’s three steamers, Calm, Breeze and Storm, are not affeefed by the trouble. It is expected that tlio war sloop Veronica, which arrived from the sea this morning, will take a mail to Wellington on Monday night. The H.M.S. Chatham will tako mails to Wellington on Tuesday night, and also convey Lord and Lady Jellicoe. Some seamen at Lyttelton state that it is not so much the reduction in wages as the alteration in conditions that is being fought. Some men

make no secret of the fact that they arc not in favour of the strike, hut are acting undei coercion of the more militant section.