LYTTELTON TO BE OPENED TO-DAY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14832, 25 November 1913, Page 7

LYTTELTON TO BE OPENED TO-DAY.

MOUNTED AND FOOT "SPECIALS" TO REACH PORT THIS iORNIfIG.

THE LOCAL DRIVERS STRIKE.

MEETING OF THE MEN.

FEW EXEMPTIONS GRANTED

POSITION REVIEWED BY CITY COUNCIL

AUCKLAND STRIKERS RETURNING TO WORK.

SCENES OF ACTIVITY ON WELLINGTON

WHARVES

UNION COMPANY'S STEAMERS STILL HELD UP

IN SYDNEY.

The first decisive step towards opening tho port of Lyttelton has been taken. It was arranged last night that the mounted "specials" at Addington would leave camp at 3 a.m. to ride over the hills to Lyttelton, and that at 6 a.m. a special train would convey tho foot "specials" to the port. Work will therefore begin to-day.

The Drivers' Union held another meeting yesterday, and as a result a general strike of drivers was declared. The City Council's drivers are involved in the strike, hut there is a possibility that the sanitary work of the city may be done. A warm discussion took place on the situation at tho City Council meeting last night, as a result of the action of two of the Councillors in nullifying the Mayor's efforts to induce the men to remain loyal to their duty.

There were two'interesting rumours yesterday. One was that a new Seamen's Union Tor all New Zealand is to be formed, to register under tho Arbitration Act. This lacks confirmation. It was also rumoured that the members of the old Watersiders' Union in Wellington will abandon the strike unless adequate support is given on the other side of the Tasman Sea. The TJ.S.S. Co.'s boats remain held up in Sydney. In tho North normal conditions are almost restored. Th© wharves in Wellington are a scene of great activity, and order is maintained in tho city. In Auckland strikers continue to return to work, and order has been so completely restored that the force of "specials" is being reduced.

A serious affair is reported from the West Coast, where the miners fired the North Brunner mine and damaged the mine property very extensively. Tho engine-drivers were driven out, and the mine will now be flooded.