MAHENO DELAYED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 142, 6 September 1927, Page 16

MAHENO DELAYED

SHORTAGE OF CREW ABSENTEES ATTEND DANCE The Union Company’s steamer Maheno, which was scheduled to leave Auckland at 9 o’clock last evening for Sydney, was delayed over two hours owing to a shortage in her complement. There were several stewards and firemen missing, and, although there were some unemployed stewards and firemen on the wharf ready to sign on, the rest of the stewards and stokehold staff' refused to sail if the original members were left behind. From the arguments alternately held on the vessel and the wharf, it looked at one time, as if the chances of the Maheno sailing were very remote. Shortly after 11 p.m. however all the absentees returned to the ship and preparations were made to depart.* Just before the gangway was let down about half a dozen stewards rushed ashore and called on their comrades to refuse to sail with the ship. Taking no notice of these men. the gangway was lowered and the Maheno started to move away from the wharf. As soon as the vessel commenced to pull away, the stewards made a rush for the ship and scrambled up the side with many willing hands on the wharf and ship to help them on board. . The passengers totalled 208, and in spite of the late hour a large number of friends waited on the wharf until the vessel sailed. It was stated on the wharf last night that it was believed the absentees had been attending a dajice„