GISBORNE'S SEA COMMUNICATION CUT OFF.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14221, 12 February 1917, Page 4

GISBORNE'S SEA COMMUNICATION CUT OFF.

NO STEAMEIT TN SIGHT. The nhvmediate effect of the present*: trouble on the waterfront has been to isolate Gisborne frpm. steamer, communi-, cation both with Auckland ahid Napier. 'The 'first -boat '-on the b'eiith' for Gisbbrne "is 'the Monowai from South on. Saturday next, but on the present outlook there is little prospect? of any steamer arriving from either north or south this The steamer 'Arahura- was to h&ve left Auckland on ..Saturday , for Tokomav-n Bay and Gisborne, and was to have brought back tho Tarawera's.over 7 caiTied cargo, which could - not be landed on Thursday on account of the, heavy sea. and had been landed at Auckland. ln : viey« of .the unfavorable development at Napier, however, it was decided Io placeiythe over-carried cargo aboard tlie Tarawera again to bring; it on to ,L,;sborue, picking up the large number ol passengers here 1 , returning. South irom the race - meetings, in, -addition,.. to ; the theatrical, company. ; The tarawera, which klid not* call M T<>k^iha*u -i^-Y,. arrived "at & 30 last evening ajiji imvayd passengers were landed last. mght. --..Mis morning, the steamer was ( ti|nd^*ed again, at 6^ o'clock,- the la*ge;uumbeYQt :passencers necessitating, two Launches. Yne steamer left at 8;15, having • landed nit the over-c'arried cargo, beside-Vloadmg 70 tons7of scenery- and .-four horses. The steamer. Arahiira" is*, now being held aA Auckland pending developments, aiid .* has on 'board , about .300 tons - ot. cargo (also over-carried dn Tluu*sday|, besides Napier ' cargo: X P™ v , ess , e . l s movem^iits are 'nticertain and negotiations are if* progresyh^sdme.lof the cargo 'is urgently ;wHnt#- ; Jvt Gisborne. Present 'indications (unless Ute A.rahui> is mlide'avail^bleypoint ..to there being no. steamer. for, -sonie/tinW The ntiliSaY tlon'j'of ' the Tara,#era on 'OiSr way Jkrath to-day enabled the 'eTeartfh'ce of yconsiderable congestion in the passenger trfcthc that\ wpuld 'have7^een^'fortunate and d^rimerital tb^tW^porf.'Y .^ ... _.7 .The Huddart Parker "steamer Westralia, which was to have arrived Here froroySvdney .and Auckland on Wednes-. day'3s" feihgl'bafck a ; e v >Auckland and proceeds' again, to _ Sydney: y , Thert*, 3s stiil v 'no wbrd v b,f tlie fteamer Victoria which ."m held npaf 'Wellington Y_ /.,,. Tn'e^'" Tarawera;'' which -M t .-Gisborne this 7 morning, 'jpro&eds 'ta Wellington, Lyttelton. and.Dunedih: The only Napier, cargo! '.the *' fsfeamer carried , was, , , tjie . theatrical' scenery, f 31 '^"^ 1 "^^ 3 having been made| to, laiitf 1 the same.. . Richardson ;¥fa'd\Cb.'tf:-'-Mi6a^er.. - R^>ie. returned to N^a^v otf %%^ay everimg. As mentiionedv'itf'Our last issue, the local cargo;', was., not .'discharged on Saturday arid is being carried' bock ,to ! Wellington. The 5 eom'piany.Y Mako arrived from the coast last everting aiid left again, being engaged to pick up natives on the coast for the hui. . . „ , v ■ . „. r ; , .. -, ■ Under . the K above 01rcuihsiance9.1t would appear tliat the overland roiites are the only -facilities: at present available, and in view- of the excellent condition- of 'the roadsyV.hile *he weathew,remains fine .motor : cars will' doubtless be availed of in .urgent cases. On the occasion .of. the last strii>e Messrs Richardson 7 and Go. rendered valuable service; to Oisbbrne by the running of a temporary service between Gisborne and Napier, but the Tahgarou, it is'undeiistodd, is not available on this occasion," being -fully, engaged elsewhere. A>meeting of .representatives of local shipping interests , was held to-day for the.' purpose of considering the future working of .the port. The position was reviewed and it was decided to await further developments, an emergency committee being appointed. OFFER FROM RErrUR<N v ED SOLDIERS'. ASSOCIATION. Captain W. T. Pitt, President . of. the New Zealand- Reburned v Spi<E^\ Association; 'despatched the- following telegram to-dav to the acting Premier,,, tlie P-on. Jas: "Allen. .-"In the event of the Governnient finding it , necessary to ' take conjtrol of water Jront> 1 desire to offer services of ReMrned. . Soldiers' Association, in order to Wlp maintain supplies for -'boys'* at front and to . ' aid Mother Lahd in present grave, crisis. This, offer is made subject to approval of my executive, wlio I' feel confident will endorse my action." -y . - In the cdiirssYof an interview jvith-a Herald" representative to-dajv CaptainPitt said lie regarded the possibility . of the. interruption of supplies from New Zealand -for the boyyat- the , front aiid. the ; A&ied ..armies, 'Ja$ -very serious, and he was , sure the 40iOO^embei*s of-'th'e Returned Soldiers' yAWociation, who were scattered throughout the pominioli would not be prepared > to stand, by .'idle and allow' 'tlieir conirades in the field' to be ."left in tlie lurch. y Further than' tbj», fey ilie subimriiie jblbckade. Gerrriany was making a sbrepiidus effort to starve Britain, arid he regarded it as essential 'tba,t' every, effort should "be made by New Zea.laoders; to aid the Motherland- in the present grave' crisis. In the event of the •• .trouble . assuming sucli serious^ proportion^ as to- 4iece'ssi.tatft,lh'e Government stepping in and talcing action, he waa -confident returned soldi ers from one end of: New Zealand to the other would back up his offer' to a man. Y