VIGILANCE OF STRIKERS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14829, 21 November 1913, Page 10

VIGILANCE OF STRIKERS.

It is stated that in consequence of their belief that the "specials" were arriving ■ at , the Port at 2 o'clock yescrday morning, a largo number of strikers and others stayed up all night and posted themselves at various strategic positions which the;"specials" have to pass to enter the town. WILD B.UMOUBS. Apparently the strikers have developed nerves, as the wildest rumours as to specials are accepted. One story widely credited by.them yesterday morning was that specials had galloped up Hereford street and dispersed a. gathering of strike sympathisers and others. The strikers yesterday morning were again busy "forming fours" and performing other drill evolutions, and it is alleged that they have received a supply of batons to match those of the specials. ARRIVAL OF THE MAORI. The Maori arrived from Wellington at 7.25 a.m., and berthed a few minutes later. Her passengers and mails were landed without any trouble. There was a very mail, as in addition to the NortSpTsland and Australian mails the Maori brought the southern portions of tho Vancouver mail. There were in all eight vans and trucks full of baggage and mails, and tho special train left the port at 8.20 a.m. At that time about 200 strikers, including many from the other side of tho hHI. had gathered in the vicinity of the Post Office. Under orders from their leaders they formed into a. procession and marched to the Oddfellows' Hall, in "Winchester street, where the usual meeting was held." Subsequently, it was reported many of the men were drilling in the street. THE NORTHERN WORKING. The only .steamer working ea/go in Lyttelton yesterday morning was tho Korthern, which is making good progress with the discharge- of her general merchandise. She had 400 tons of case oil in No. 5. hatch for Lyttelton. The Northern is expected to complete discharge of tho Lyttelton portion of her cargo by to-morrow night, when she will sail for Dunedin. FLEET OF SCHOONERS. After a smart passage.from Kaipara, the bngantine Aratapa arrived in Lyttelton at 3 o'clock yesterday morning. tSie was berthed about nine o'clock at the Gladstone Pier, astern of the My and the Annie Hill, which belong to the same owner, Mx W. Cook. The whole of the locally-owned fleet of schooners is now in port at Lyttelton.

The vessels, which all have full cargoes of timber, are as follow: —Annie Hill, Aratapu, Lily, Eliza Firth, Eunice, and Morning Light. STEAMERS IN PORT. The fleet of steamers, in port last night was as follows: —At tile wharvfc* Northern, Canopus,. Opouri, Karamu, Defender, and Cygnet; in the stream, Kaitangata, Kini, Kowhai, Flora, To Anau, Petone and Breeze. ' MAORI SHIPS RACEHORSES. Yesterday afternoon the Maori shipped sixteen racehorses and a truck of gear and stores for Wellington without interference from the strikers. Five of tho firemen on tho Maori yesterday, finding the terrors of seaeickness too much for them, left the ves&el. One, however, rejoined, and tho other four vacancies were quickly filled. THE ULIMAROA'S FIREMEN. It looked onco or twice yesterday afternoon as if trouble would occur between the firemen of the Ulimaroa and thy crew of the Maori, at any rate, the firemen did their best to promote it. Both vessels wore drawn up at the ferry wharf, one on each side, and the firemen of the fjliinaroa, not content with calling out "scabs' - " and similar abusive words to the men on the Maori, followed these up by throwing potatoes, turnips, and similar articles. Onco or twice tho Maori men were nearly going across the wharf to attack their iiersecutors, but they managed to hold themselves in check. As the Ulimaroa , cast off from the wharf at G. 30 p.m.. the firemen, who lined hor rail, shook their fists at the i men on the Maori, and aftor giving throe cheers for the strikers, gave a hearty frro-in for the crew of the "scab" sHp. "Set? if you can beat us to Wellington, you 'scabs'!" they yollod to the firemen on the Maori, who irorely grinned in response. As tho Maori did not lonvo Lvttelton till 9 n.m.. two nrirl v I'filf hour? after the dppnrtn p c of the UliTinron, tho chances of h'or beating tho Ulimarca are someromnte. When tlio Minri left port there was nor tho slightest demonstration. Tn fact, the whole 'lav wns ono -of the quietest of t'to strike. STRIKE COMMITTEE'S MANIFESTO. The following manifesto from the Lyttelton .Strike Committeo was handed to a "Press" reporter yesterday-:— "A meeting .of members of tho Union was held in •■ the Oddfellows' Hall. There was a full attendance. A considerable airount of business was gone through. We are all in good spirits.

"At a meeting of- the Strike Committee it was resolved to move in tho matter of food supplies for Westnort. 'It was decided to hold a meeting at Governor's Bay on Saturday night, to explain to tho Ba3 f settlers matters connected with the present struggle. "Wo wish it to be known that we have started discharging the timber ex Defender, so that the Defender can as soon as possible start loading foodstuffs for Westport, tho cargo to bo worked by our men. and the proceeds ,to go to the Strike Fund. "Further donations were received with thanks." , CASUAL RAILWAY-WORKERS. The members of the Lyttelton Casual Railway Union wish to acknowledge, with thanks, the following giits, which have been very much appreciated by them and their families:—From Mr J. Oliver (Lyttelton), 16 sacks of potatoes; J. W. Webb and Co. (Lyttelton), 10 sacks of potatoes; Mr J. R. Webb,.. Mayoj: of Lyttelton, £2 2s; Friends, 13s 6d; Tramway engineers (Christchurch), 10s; a Christchurch firm, £1 Is. The Union's thanks are also due to Mr .Whiteside, jun., for permission to shoot rabbits at Rapaki, and for the gift of 100 cartridges for same.

Mr A. McNaughton,.on behalf of the railway goods sheds casual workers, desires to sincerely thank "Importer," for sundries; Woods and Co. (per New Zealand .Flourmillerß , Association), for 20 bags flour; "Friend." for; £1 Is; "Another Friend/ for £2 2s; and also Mrs Thomson (Colombo street), for 12 loaves of bread per day while the strike lasts. . .