A QUIET WATERFRONT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 12

A QUIET WATERFRONT.

Peace and quietness reigned along the waterfront all day yesterday, and the steamers Northern and- Dorset worked full time without interference. The small coastal steamer Defender was busy until late last night putting out her cargo of timber by "special permission" of the Strike Committee. Doubtless she would still have been idle had not tho strikers received news from West-port that food supplies were running short there, and that it was desired that tho Defender should tabva load of produce from Lyttelton to the West Coast port, the strikers there evidently feeling the pinch. THE FERRY SERVICE. The Maunganui, which is .to act as ferry steamer for a few )rips, sailed at 5.40 last night with a fairly largo number of passengers, amongst whom were several officers of the Union Company who had acted as seamen and firemen on the Te Anau for the ruu to Lvttelton. Iho departure of the big'liner was very quiet tne crowd on the wharf being very small, and including only a few strikers and out-of-work seamen and firemen. The Maori left Wellingtonat 3.0 p.m. yesterday, and is due at / o clock tins morning. She will avo , a i? am for WeUington on arrival of the j. 40 p.m. train. Tho Pateena, leaving Wellington to-night, will arrive here to-morrow morning, and will Knlon Monday night on arrival of the 0.-o pro. train. For th© first time since tho tune of the strike the ferry steamer Pateena is announced to load cargo at Lyttelton for Wellington on Monday. The Maunganui shipped no cargo yesterday, but during the afternoon she took in six racehorses and a truck load of stores and gear for Wellington. SHIPS IN PORT. The fleet of ships at the wharves is gradually increasing in numbers, and includes the following:—Dorset s.s., Northern e.s., Canopus s.<*., Karauiu K.S., Opouri s.s., Defender s.s., Cygnet s-s., and Annie Hill, .Aratapu, Lily, Eliza Firth, "Morning Light, and Eunice, schooners. Tho To Anau is moored u> buqys near the dock, and out

in the stream.are the Kaitangata, Krni, Kowhai, Flora, Petone, and Breeze. RIMUTAKA DUE TO-MORROW. The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Rimutaka, from London via way ports, will complete discharging at Wellington to-day, and will sail this afternoon for Lyttelton. On arrival here to-morrow, the big steamer will anchor in the stream. She will probably berth at the wharf on Monday. The Rimutaka has about 1700 tons of general cargo to land at Lyttelton, and this will be discharged by members of the new union. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Following tho Rimutaka, the next oversea steamers due to arrive at Lyttelton are the Corinthic, Remuera, and Marere from London, and the Mimiro from New York, and they will probably all be hero next week. UNLOADING THE DORSET. Half an hour after the arrival of the Maunganui, the big Federal Shire liner, Dorset, came through the moles from Wellington, arid berthed at No. 7 wharf. She had 1200 tons of general cargo for Lyttelton, and it was early decided to commence unloading operations. The crew and firemen held a meeting to discuss matters, and decided, with cheers, to assist in the work of unloading. Operations commenced at about 10.30 a.m., railway permanent hands working the trucks. Two gangs, comprised of members of the crew, were engaged in tho v.ork of unloading the cargo from the ship, and it is estimated that each gang' can manage one hundred tons a day, so that it should not be many days, if all goes well, before the Dorset will be able to proceed to Dunedin to discharge her Southern cargo. So far as is known at present, there is no intention of shipping cargo aboard her at Lyttelton. When the work of unloading commenced yesterday morning, strike pickets, who were on the wharf, hastened away to report the affair to their confreres, who were holding a meeting in the Oddfellows' Hall. NORTHERN STILL UNLOADING. Tho Northern has mado good, progress with the work of discharging, and will finish to-day. She sails for Dunedin this afternoon to complete unloading, and then proceeds to Port Pirie (•South Australia) to load ore for Europe. THE TE ANAU AS HOUSEBOAT. The To Anau, which will be utilised as a houseboat for tho new Arbitration unionists while working at Lyttelton, arrived from Wellington at 9.30 on Thursday night, and anchored in the stream. Yesterday morning she came through tho moles and was moored to two buoys close beside the graving dock. A FOOL'S ERRANIX-■■•;.•;.;■ It was rumoured in Lyttelton' on Thursday night that a detachment •of special constables was to arrive at the Port about two o'clock yesterday morning. A man. who had received the information, on what he considered to be good authority, told a'friend on the wharf, when a strike picket standing near-by overheard the conversation, and rushed off 'to spread the news. It travelled quickly, and a body of 100 to 150 strikers and others was got together, and marched. off round the Governor's Bay road, somewhere about 11 p.m., evidently, with the idea of trying to intercept the "specials." The mob straggled along the road, keeping up their courage by making a great commotion, singing and shouting and generally behaving in a noisy -manner which disturbed peaceful residents on the way. They returned later, having found that they had been on a fool's errand.