TWO WARSHIPS FOR LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14831, 24 November 1913, Page 7

TWO WARSHIPS FOR LYTTELTON.

PYRAMUS AND PSYCHE DUE TO-DAY. fFKKS ASSOCIATION TBLEGBAII.) AUCKLAND, November 23. Considerable excitement prevailed on the waterfront yesterday when it was whispered about that H.M.S. Tyramiis had received orders to prepare for sea. Shortly before 4 p.m. the collier iiomata was brought alongside, and the work oT coaling the warsnip commenced.

The Pyramns arrived at Auckland from New Hebrides on the morning 6T Monday, October 27th, and after coaJing in t-ho stream, started on her way ».o Napier, Wellington, and Lyttelton trie following evening, --ne had not proceeded far down the- coast when a wireless message requested —or commander to return to port and tx?rth. Tho present labour trouute was just tnen in its infancy, and at daylight on Wednesday, October 20th, v-o warship was snugly berthed at the Queen's .Vharf, with her bow close up to Quay street. She remained there- while the rickete had ohargo of the waterfront, but when the mounted "specials" and uniformed police took command on Saturday morning. November 7tb, the Pyramus

was removed to t> berth on tho wort side of No. 2 jetty, where eh* remained until her departure last night. Immediately the Komata had been secured alongside the warship, about «J0 foot "specials" who aro now located on the- Queen's Wharf, woro marched round to assist in the work of coaling. Tho "specials" entered into th.o -worK with sreat seal, and at 4 p.m. «uo nrst basket of coal was'tipped into the warship's bunkers. Thereat ier uio work proceeded at a brisk pace, and was completed shortly after 11 p.m., when tho tally showed that about 360 tons had been stowed away, which is conMdered to bo a creditable piece of work. Only tho two forward hatches of the collier wero worked, and Uie men were cheered on by the strains of musio from bagpipes, which wero almost continuously played on the warship by a uniformed constable.

At the completion of tho work, tho "specials," who had assisted tbo crew, wero addressed by Captain Stoptord, the Commander of t«o i'yramus, who thanked the men for tho manner in which they had stuck to tho worK, and also mentioned that the amount of coal taken in during seven liours was a very creditable periormanco. tho 30 "specials boarded the Komata, several luemucrs or thr» collier's crew resented tho "interference" of the men and immediately wauced ashore with thnir belongings. The Pyramus cleared No. 3 jetty a few minutes after midnight, and as sho backed into the stream, ncr crew were greeted by throo roaring cheers from tho largo number of "specials" who nad turned out to witness nor dppnrture.The» warship's crew responded and a few minutes later the nvssei was steaminjr, down tho harbour and was soon Jost sipht of.

It is understood that tho Jfyramos is making a speed trial u> Lyttaltoo, and will probably "log" If) knots.

llf tho Pyramus steams at 19 knot* sho should reach Lyttolton about noon to-day."l