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Observer, Volume 2, Issue 34, 7 May 1881, Page 360

The men employed on the Union Company's boats are fearfully overworked. Up < and down the coast, officers frequently ' have to slave hard all day discharging and taking in cargo, and at night to go to sea and keep watch. Not very long ago the second mate of the told the writer that he hadn't had more than an hour or two's sleep for five days. "Ah !" he said, "it's terrible to have to go on watch, on a rough treacherous night after work-

ing hard all day at the cargo, carrying heavy weights, and dead tired out. Sometimes I can scarcely keep my eyes open, and it would be absurd to pretend that I am alert and really fit to look after the ship." The only time these men get any rest is on the voyages between Russell and Sydney, or Hobart and the Bluff. The steamers seldom remain long in Sydney. The time we were over there the Rotomahana came in one afternoon, and left again the next, discharging and taking in cargo in the interim. Thepay isgood, otherwisemen would'ntbe found to accept the billets, but the risk of perpetually travelling in these boats must be considerable. Our only wonder is that there have not heen more accidents.