WORK ON WELLINGTON WHARVES.

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

WORK ON WELLINGTON WHARVES.

(press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, November 21. If anything work along the harbour front was- even brisker to-day than it was yesterday. An important development in the restoration of normal trade was the loading of cargo on the ferry steamer Maori, which left to-night for Lyttelton. Hitherto, since the strike started practically no attempt has been made to carry cargo on the ferry steamers owing to Lyttelton being a "closed" port. With the resumption .of work there, however, n should not be long before cargo is handled as freely as formerly by the ferry service.

Jervois quay wharf, whore the Tyser liners Nerehana and Marere are unloading, presented an extremely busi-ness-like aspect to-day. 'Ihe wharf at present constitutes the "heavy weight" department. -Out of the holds of the former vessel throughout the day were being discharged huge girders, tanks, mains, wire netting, pig yon, and other weighty material, and at tho luncheon adjournment tons upon tons of this bulky material were stacked on the wharf. The Marere was also getting rid.of her quota of the same class of goods, aud in addition thousands of sacks of salt. *» • The coasters Hawera, B'enheim, and Huia, all busily loading, lay berthed between the Queen's and the ferry wharves. At the railway wharf tho scene was one of the greatest animation. Alongside were iho Wairuna, Pukaki, and Poherua-. The gangs unloading coal from the former two vessels numbered 180 men. and although mostly new at the game, the coal was coming out very satisfactorily. The which has been out. in the stream since just after the commencement of the strike, has on board 1400 tons of State coal from Greymouth, but this nforning she was unable to start unloading owing to all the available "coalies"' being engaged on the othertwo colliers. The Rimutaka, at the Glasgow wharf, was steadily settling down in the water, ami alongside were close upon a dozen trucks of cargo waiting to be slung into her holds. The Pateena, at the King's wharf, was taking in general goods, and on the far side of the same wharf all manner of stores were rapidly coming out of tho Remuera. With improved membership in the new Carters' Union, it is expected that the railway and other parcels delivery contracts will be renewed on Monday. It is stated by a Strike Committee official that prosecutions are pending against certain special constables on tho ground of "their interference with peaceful pickets." The informant states that the strike officials rave obtained legal advice on the matter, and have decided to institute Court proceedings. Peaceful picketing, he_said ; was quite legal, and was extensively indulged in in the Old Country.

(special to "tht press.") "WELLINGTON, November 21. The actual number of steamers still idle on account of the strike at Wellington numbers ten. It is anticipated

that practically all these boats will be ■placed m commission very shortly. The Mimiro will come in from the etream to-morrow morning to commence discharging her cargo from -New lort, and she will be followed by the Blackball Coal Company's Ngatoro later in the day. It is probable that the Ngatoro will leave Wellington for 'an unknown port" to-morrow evening. It is understood that this vessel is to proceed to Newcastle to load coal for a New Zealand port as a test of the Australian workers' attitude. The liner Kia Ora will be tho only oversea steamer left in the stream at Wellington to-morrow. It is anticipated, that she will come alongside and commence loading wool for London early next week. The new -unionists have settled down to their -work, and everything is going on satisfactorily, that is, as far as the actual handling of cargo at tho ship's side is concerned. There is a different tale to'tell in connexion with the Harbour Board sheds, however. They are becoming full of stuff. This is not tho fault of the Harbour Board. The reason for the congestion is that difficulty has been experienced in getting the goods away. No sooner is one shed fairly clear than another big ship comes alongside, and before long there is a blockffce. Want of carts and carters is the whole cause of the trouble.

From official figures supplied to.your representative it was found that there were 900 men employed in handling cargo of a™ descriptions on the waterfront to-day, and then some of the stevedores were compelled to work short-handed. It was said that if they had been available, another IZG men could have been found employment.

For the first time since the 6trike, cargo was accepted by tho ferry steamer for Lyttelton this evening. The opinion held in shipping circles is that this new departure will inaugurate the regular cargo carrying business between the two ports. The Pateena, which was berthed at the King's wharf to-day, will take in cargo to-morrow before leaving for Lyttelton.