GOOD WORK BY AN "AMATEUR" CREW.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14840, 4 December 1913, Page 8

GOOD WORK BY AN "AMATEUR" CREW.

THE MAHENO-S VOYAGE FROM SYDNEY. (SPECIAL TO "the pmess.") AUCKLAND; December 3. Shortly after .8 o'clock this morning the Union Company's steamer Maheno arrived in the stream at Auckland after a voyage across the Tasman Sea from Sydney which is unique in the history of the vessel' and in the annals of the

intercolonial service. Tho' Maheno was manned on deck and below by what was practically a voluteer crew. - In the stokehold the work of firemen and trimmers was carried out by saloon and steerage passengers, assisted by the engineers. The work was done in fourhour shifts, fourteen or fifteen forming a watch instead of the customary ten. Naturally the amateurs found stoking a strenuous occupation, and in a.fewcases, after the first day, men dcfi-SUi that they were not physically fitted for the work. Sickness accouuted for a number of others, but there "were always plenty of others volunteering to fill any vacancy that arose. %An excellent spirit prevailed all tho way, and those doing the work were inclined to treat their unusual job as a sort of adventure. A friendly spirit of rivalry prevailed between the various watches, and the distances logged during each shift were cioselv watched. On the first day only 90 miles wero covered, 171 were logged on the second, and after that an average of about 270 miles was maintained. Tlio voyage, allowing for the difference of time be-, tween here and Sydney, occupied 5 days 31 hours, and the average mileage per day over tho whole trip was .228. A number of the stewards had remained loyal when their companions left the shin, and some others weTe secured, but still there were not enough to cone with tho exceptionally largo number of passengers t-o be cared for, and lady passengers camo to the rescue and lent every assistance. On deck tbe hnnds worked with a will, and were ablo to keen things going as usual.