TEN WEEKS’ VOYAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 6

TEN WEEKS’ VOYAGE

STORY OF HARDSHIP

MUNMORAH’S CREW

'Several members of the crew of the collier Nfnnmora.il., which reached Sydney on December 18 after a 10 weeks’ voyage from, Leith direct, during- which they underwent some of the hardships which the disappearance of sailing ships has made uncommon, arrived in Wellington by the Makuea. They are Messrs. J. Sheppard, F. V. Oollis, A. Goodmanson and 11. {Houston, three of whom were signed on as firemen and tho fourth as an able seaman. The Munmorah is a new vessel of modern type intended for the service ■between Sydney and Catherine Hill Hay, on the Australian coast. Her gross tonnage is 679 and her carrying capacity 1475 tons in two holds. She was built at Leith for the W-allarah Coal Company, Limited, and was brought out by a crew of men who did not desire to return to England. All 'but one of those who arrived by the Makura have their homes in New Zealand.

; During the 10 weeks’ voyage the MunmoraK called at no port and rarely sighted .land; the route being via the Cape of Good Hope. All on board were overjoyed when the long voyage ended and. those who have reached Wellington said that they would not like to undertake such ,a passage again. When port was made, the crew had been existing for weeks on salt pork taken from brine-filled casks, with the addition of salt butter and preserved and tinned foods. An endeavor to vary the diet of pork with fish was made, hut without success. The only -bait was the salt pork. Worst of all, the supply of tobacco gave out. Nearly all the men were heavy smokers, and although organised searches for tobacco were held on the last few days, they had to resor;t to dried tea leaves rolled, in ordinary paper. The members of the crew had only .praise for the small vessel, which madethe voyage without difficulty. Coal for the passage was carried in the holds, and some of the men were employed wheeling it in wheelborrows through the watertight doors into the stokehold.