FERRY STEAMER UNDISCHARGED.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14832, 25 November 1913, Page 8

FERRY STEAMER UNDISCHARGED.

800 TONS IN PATEENA. TAKEN BACK TO WELLINGTON. The ferry steamer Pateena, which went out to an anchorage in the stream after she had landed her passengers and mails on Sunday, came in yesterday morning about seven o'clock, and berthed at No. 2 wharf. The Pateena has on board about 300 tons of\cargo, but no attempt was made to discharge any portion of it- No trucks were s.ent alongside the steamer, although the officers of the ship and the Union Company's permanent men were ready and willing to start handling the cargo. The officers of the ship, chafing at the delay, and seeing that the funnel of the steamer" demanded a fresh coat of paint, set to work to mix the red paint, and after rigging stages, gave the shabby funnel two coats of rich red, and the top a double coat of glossy black. About eight o'clock yesterday morning a squad of ten constables marched on to the wharf to protect discharging operations, but their services were not required. The Pateena lay idle at the wharf all day until the arrival of the first express. Having embarked passengers and mails, the steamer sailed about 6.30 p.m. for Wellington, taking her undischarged cargo back with her. The Pateena has a full cargo, chiefly transhipments from oversea steamers at Wellington, including a quantity of fruit ex the Willochra, from San Francisco. The strikers regarded the idle steamer with quiet satisfaction yesterday, the fact that no attempt was made to discharge lending colour to their firm belief that they are completely masters of the situation. If the Pateena continues in the ferry service she will discharge her cargo at Lyttelton to-morrow, but if she is relieved by any other steamer, the goods will be transhipped at Wellington, and sent back for discharge at Lyttelton.