AT LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14838, 2 December 1913, Page 7

AT LYTTELTON.

BUST SCENES ON THE

WATERFRONT.

TWENTY-TWO SHIPS AT THE

WHARVES.

NEARLY 400 MEN WORKING,

2000 TONS DISCHARGED

YESTERDAY.

After tho" temporary stoppage caused by tho heavy rain on Saturday work was resumed in earnest on the Lyttelton waterfront yesterday morning, and the port was busier than it has been for nearly twelve months past. Practically every ship at the wharves was working cargo, and the output was very satisfactory. Except at thoso ships which were employing their own crews, members of the new Arbitration Union were working, and every available man was fully employed. The union, which has been steadily growing in numbers, was increased by nearly 30 men yesterday, the total number on tho roll last night being 160. Moro men wil] bo joiniing to-day., and a representative of "The Press" was authoritatively informed yesterday that a number of tho members of the old union, who are heartily tired of tbe strike, are becoming increasingly anxious to start work. The striko leaders, and many of the "militants," still express themselves as being quite confident of victory, and they cite the prospect of a maritime striko throughout Australia as evidence that their cause is far from being a lost one.

Practically all that tho strikers can find to do in Lyttelton at tho present time is to stand idly about the street

corners and at places ove* .ooking tho wharves, and watch the busy scenes on tho waterfront. Thero they can see ample proof of tho hopelessness of their position, for, apart from tbe presence of numerous special constables, there is nothing to outwardly show that the striko is still "on." Tho port is moro than ordinarily busy, and work is in full swiii,:.

Inere were nineteen shins working cargo yesterday, and the woolsheds and cool stores wore also busy. Tho total number of men actively engaged in discharging and 10.-.din_ operations on tho wharves yesterday, exclusive of overseers and tally clerks, was 3S_. This number included 160 members of the new union, 13_ railway hands, permanent and casual, the remainder being the seamen and firemen of oversea ships. Many of tho latter record the pos.tion with considerable satisfaction, as their nay days at the conclusion of the voyages of their shins will be greatly augmented by the good money which thoy aro earning at cargo work. Discharging went on with a swing yesterday, and the lons trains of loaded trucks which went throush to Christchurch were striking evidence of tho good work bein_-. done. Tho day's work was the be«t since the oncnina'of the port, over 2000 tons of cargo being landed.

THE FLEET. Tho fleet of slips in harbour yesterday was as follows:—

No. 2 wharf: Pateena, Kairaki, Cygnet. No. 3 wharf: H.M.S. Pvramus, Hinomoa, Wakatu. No. 4 wharf: Rimutaka, Kini. No. 5 wharf: Canopus, Opouri. No 6 wharf: Mimiro, Remuera, Karamu. No. 7 wharf: Marere, Corinthic. Cattle wharf: Storm. Gladstone Pier: Petone s.s., and schooners Eliza Firth, Morning Light, Aratapu, Eunice, Lily, Annie Hill. No. 1 breastwork: To Anau. In tho stream: Kaitangata, Flora, Kowhai and Titania. The total tonnage of the twenty-two ships at tho wharves was 54,310, and of tho four steamers in tho stream 7GC-9 tons, making the aggregate 61,979 tons. At tho wharves, thero wero one warship, 15 steamers, and six schooners. CORINTHIC DISCHARGING.

Tlie Shaw, Savill and Albion steamer Corinthic started discharging at eight o'clock yesterday morning, working with tho members of her crew, seamen, firemen and stewards, and a small number of new unionists. Tho big steamer has 2000 tons of general cargo to land. The cargo was being discharged very rapidly from five hatches. Ono of tho officers 6tated that the men were working very well, and wore, if anything, a little too eager. Tho Corinthic will probably remain at Lyttelton until Thursday, December llth. A very largo quantity of wool, dairy produce, and othor cargo has been booked for shipment nt Lyttelton by tho Corinthic, which will subsequently proceed to Auckland, Gisborne, and Wellington to complote loading for London. She will bo an absolutely full ship when sho leaves Wellington on Docember 20th.

RIMUTAKA LOADING. Tho Rimutaka has almost completed discharge of her cargo from London, and is now busily engaged in loading operations. Wool dumping is in full swing in tho New Zealand Shipping Company's store, and already several hundred bales havo been loaded by the Rimutaka. There was a busy sceno at tho Harbour Board cool stores yesterday, whore butter and choose were being trucked for shipment. Tho Rimutaka is loading 10.000 boxes of butter and about 800 crates of cheese at Lyttelton. TWO MILLION FEET OF JARRAH.

The Norwegian tramp steamer Tttania arrived hi tho stream yesterday afternoon from Bunbury, via Otago Heads. Tho vessel left Bunbury on November 15th, and when passing Nuggets Point was signalled to proceed direct to Lyttelton. Her master anchored off Otago Heads, as part of his cargo was for Dunedin. After receiving orders to come to Lyttelton to land tho whole of his cargo, tho Titania left at 4 p.m. on Sunday, and anchored in the stream hero at 3 p.m. yesterday. Tho Titania, which is a turret deck steamer, has about 2,000.000 feet of jarrah, chiefly slecners for the Railway Department. She will bo berthed this morning on the east side of No. 6 wharf, which will bo vacated by the Mimiro. Another Norwegian steamer, the Hercules, from Bunbury via Auckland and Wellington, is due at Lyttolton to-morrow with 800,000 feet of jarrah.

MORE OVERSEA STEAMERS COMING. Thero •will be no slackening off in the volume of cargo work at Lyttelton for many weeks to como. In addition to tho big fleet already in port, -several oversea steamers aro duo within tho next few days. The U.S. and A. line' steamer Sturmfels from Now York is expected to arrive to-morrow or Thursday, with nearly 1000 tons of general cargo. Tho New Zealand Shipping Company's chartered steamer Tokomaru, from Montreal, ia now at Wellington, but she will not como to Lyttelton. Sho has 482 tons of cargo for this port, but this will be transhipped at Wellington by coastal steamers to Lyttelton. Tlie'New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Turakhia, from London, started discharging at Dunedin yesterday, and is expected to arrive at Lyttelton about tho end of this week to complote unloading. She has 925 tons of cargo for Lyttelton. Tho Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Arawa, from London, is now discharging at Wellington, and will arrive about the ond of the week at Lvttelton, for which port she has about 1800 tons of freight. Other ships due within the next fortnight aro the New Zealand Shipning Company's steamers Kaipara from Liverpool, and Whakatano from Montreal, and the Shaw, Savill ard Albion steamer Zealandic from Liverpool.

EAST COAST CARGO SERVICE. In addition to the oversea fleet, thoro is a prospect of much work being done at Lyttelton in connexion with coastal cargo steamers. The Union Company has established a cargo service between Auckland, East Coast ports and Lyttelton. 'liio Wan oka from Auckland, via Napier and Wellington, will arrive at Lvttelton tomorrow to land sugar and general cargo. Sho will probably proceed to tho Bluff. Tbo Kittawa left Auckland yesterday with a full cargo of sugar tor southern ports, and is duo at Lyttelton about the end of this week. Starting from Dunedin on the 9th or 10th inst.. the Kittawa will load at Oamaru, Timaru, and Lyttelton for Wellington. Napier, Gisborne, and Auckland. The Pukaki is to leave Auckland to-morrow with general cargo and sugar for Wellington and Lyttelton. It is reported that there is a probability of the Huddart-Parker steamer Victoria arriving at Lyttelton to-morrow from Dunedin to load for East Coast ports and Auckland.

CARGO FOR KAIKOURA. Tho Cygnet and Wakatu discharged full cargoes of wool and other goods from Kaikoura yesterday morning, and during the afternoon they filled up with stores and general cargo for that port. These steamers, sailed last night. CARGO FROM WELLINGTON. The ferry steamer Pateena put in a very busy day's work and landed about 160 tons ol cargo, chiefly transhipments , from Wellington. She also loaded' several trucks of cargo booked for that port Tne Wahine, uue this morning, is bringing a very heavy English and Australian mail, ex the Zealandic at Auckland. The ferry steamer also has a considerable quantity Of cargo to land. Last nigrit thoro was a long line of fuil trucks standing on the wharf, holding canro for shipment by the Wahine to Wellington- 1

FULL CARGOES FOR COASTAL STEAMERS. The Kaiapoi Shipping Co.'s steamer Kairaki loaded about "tO tons of produce and general cargo yesterday. Sho sailed last night for New Plymouth and Hokitika an absolutely full ship, her freight being the heaviest sho has ever carried. Tbo Wootton, which left Kaiapoi on Sunday with a full cargo of produce for Wellington, is due at Lyttelton to-morrow, * full to tho hatch coamings. After discharging she will fill un with cargo for Pieton. ; The Onr-uri sailed last night for Timaru. where sho wjil fill up for Nelson. She loaded a half cargo of flour,. produce, nnd other goods at Lyttelton. CREWS FOR COASTAL STEAMERS. There appears to be no great difficulty in securing full crews for tho coastal cargo steamers now in commission. A reporter was informed yesterday that several seamen applied for berths in one steamer. The smaller vessels are manned with crows con-tair-inc a proportion of men who have nroduced discharges showing thcra to have had tho n«>ccs*"-ary sea experience to qualify as ablo seamen. HOUSEBOAT TE ANAU. The To Anan, tho houseboat of tho new unionists, parted one of her moorings nt tho buoys during a heavy snuall on Surday evening, and was -shifted by the tue Lvttelton to a berth at No." 1 breastwork. On Sunday, at th* inv'fnrioii of the men, the Roy. E. Eliot Obn-i----!v»rs;, vicar of St Saviour's Church. West Lyttelton, held divino servico on board.