NO LYTTELTON BOAT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1641, 7 January 1913, Page 5

NO LYTTELTON BOAT.

,S.S. MAORI STILL HIJLEi UP. ' FIREMEN AND THEIR dOOD •• . .' .' NAME. "•■■ ,■::■ ' X a .-■. : : ...' ;.,"..,,,-. '.;:■; ,* y 0 AWAITING AN APOLOQY.,:' o ■, ,■ i • ■ .;• .-; : . -VV"-,' 5 ....;'. . ... ,"7—" —' •.. '..,' '-.'■ 9 ! POSSIBILITY OP MORB »■■■■■; TROUBLE, > 0 ' ■ ■ .. . '■; ',■,'■-. 1 ; No stcainor lctt usual'rua.to; Lytteltori'last .rJgkti' as.flro-'' •.• men could not bo induced to go in a'ny, s 6teamer that:was available. Tho reason V ;" is still tho little' paragraph.' which ap-,' .'. peared in.'somo newspapers, pn;.;)!?cw; ;■..;'■ ■'. Year's Day, to tho effect tWt'lhe tTip'', ; ■' s of- tho-Maori to Picton that day had l«en ..,;.'■' abandoned because tho. firemen had:jdo- ■■'■'■' 6 niarided Msifor tho trip. - The 6latej ' mcnt.was at onco corrected by tho Press . Association, which'had sent the original y j nidssag 1 © out,,but tho Ma'bri,men'w in-'". ' dighant,: and they want an.'apologyi,-iA''i':": ' letter of apolosy was - seat ■ to • tho. we're-"' ;'- !_. ~tary of tho union .by the Tress'Associa- ■, /' a' ,'tion, bdt tlio 'men doinand. that : ; tha ~ v t apology hiust bear.tho signaturo .of the ; - man who supplied tho news,;' andthat,;V tho apology shall bo published. .This do* ■',-"'/" t mandihas not been'• satisfied,',and they, , v t refuse to work.''" \ ' ; .''.: ■; ,"•'"' : ' '■■ -Quito ©arly yesterday it was clear' q enough that no firemen would go into tho Maori, and tho company thought to > a accommodate people who wished to travel '. 0 by sending tho To Anau hack on tho run. n It was, aboat .4.30 p.m. when,the trip, of ;y < l the To Anau was definitely cancelled,'■■'.. r and for the snino reason., Slio was short '■■'. .' s of six, firemen but of a .complement; of:',''. : cIeVCU. '1 v.;; "We Want an.Apology^v; ; <M;;,,',; ; . "So"far' as I 'can see,',tm|y. : haren't \y ,; ; chance of getting half a ma:a," said Mr.; '.•"' ■ W. T. Young, secretary of (ho Seamen'B ; ■'■■■■ Uhion, yesterday ■'■ about' niiidday.:.'; He . expressed the opinion also that he ~ did not think'any of the firemen, from '■:' tho To.Auau.or any othor slilp.would gov, ', into tho Maori, while the. dispute m ;' which tho Maori's crow wcrei concerned n ■■''• .was still .unsettled., ..'',,..'■•','.:.'.•'.: ;. ; -- ; .-'-V'"':''■'..;-. '.What aro your, terms .for a settlement 0 : e now? ho'.was.asked. : ::■:.'.;■■ ",'"■-.'' > "Wo want an apology, signed by-the-?, ■ reporter .who gavo.tho wrong information V to- ( t,lio: Pi-ess: Association,i-, publishod; inji' i; B .' the'"paper,"'-''' *V' :', ; -'^''t''' H'-y ■'-.--f ; : '-•'-•>.»».: -; " .'•.■ You nro not 'satisfied with tho isigna-; ■ ? hire of thi> man who is in charge of tho ■ j! Press Association? ...,.. -i;--'.,.,, .;. . ! i,' : ' . "N0.,. We've, got that, now on the ' - apology wo'havo received. If tho apology .'.'■,' '■ is forthcoming I understand there will bV " no difficulty'about getting it,, published. ■'.-;■ ", and if;it is published.a,crow ciin lj© fpiind .; k for the ship." ■ ■■-'.''-• ryy'y:. f' : : ■■■■c^ 1 No Mails, No, PaHsiineri. -' •'■'■'.''••' .-■'■ At 12.30: yesterday the manager of.tho ;,■ 1 Union Company,,Mr,-W; A. Kennedy,/in-' ' : V >■• formed" a ! DdiiHiioK reporter, that ho had' } - : 'just givon-insti'uctions.in : tho.'offlce to stop. .• ;.,. jwoking,fyr the.Maori, because ho did,;o [, not, tlnnE there iiwasinuchchohco of got-- ■ 1 tfng her awa^,'; Ho had also given in«; r ''l I structionsi lie', said, that the To ~ , should proceed south on.the Lyttelton rua ; i'-,,-;' ' that evening.' ':'• .. ..•"''-'.•'": '■'■'>-{ ;'■' :'.;.V ; • Altogether; about SBOpboplo' booked to ':. : . go south by tho Maori, or whatever, other " • . steamer might bo running,' It y/as at,' , first, intended to transfer the To Anau'a ' [■ firemen s into the Maori, and to make up ',. j tho full oomplemont from the men who ' ~:, might offer themselves l ,'for:'em{|lt>jftnent;'t ' f I The firemen on, tho To Anau, ..lot''itlbi>V [■'1 understood at onoo that thoy'did not pro. ~ , pose td BUbmit to being transferred,'' l a'nd : E this 4 scheme,;,,.was , dijoppod.- '. '. Tho- :•',• ) company', then ,;, decided - to do'.what.', . seemed to'bo tho only possiblo thing under > the clrpumstances-40. send tho To Anau , 1 on .auother' journey to Lyttelton. But.' '■ t the firomen, or, somo of, them, refused to , '.'•;! i : g0.,. Thereafter • the company';modeV no ! ;', . attempt .to. dispatch any, other : ship on , : ' ;■ tho ferry nin, and no passengers and no '*■ ,: malls,loft:fori.Lyttelton. : ;.:;. :U ~f : { y /^i[-; s ; 'J": '.'•" 'y ''■''A Mooting'iHetdf.";'■'''.'''•'.'" ' • •:'. ■■';', [' ' 'In tho mornine'lt Was' rumoured' that' 1 ' f thoro might, bo trouble about getting a •.': crow for' a ship to' goto but •'. ■•'■' " it'.was, not. finally .settled that "the;-T«- '• J Anau'a .men .would riot make 7tho* trip' ! : until after an,informarmeeting'ofistoke- ~' ' hold men from the Maori and; other '. '.> - cssol9'ia''-;'port;'?,".',Tlio;'mectuig was not■••'■'.■i convened by tho secretary of the union■>■ i (Mr; W.'IV Young),' but it was held in;;' ' [ tho union room's; .:.; ■:■.,'.: '";;,] After the meeting, Mri Young gave tea; •''■( ••', DpMiNios,«ubrter a;brief outlino of,what ■ ' ■ '■ had oceurrecf,at tho meeting," ,'Tho mect<',- V;' ing' discussed ,tlie position generally," ha,' : .■•■',' '■'■ , said. "Tho facts wcro I 'placed'before tho;"''••men by, me, aiid they decided' to adhcro , ~ ' to their former determination to deinafcd ■ •;• tho signaturo of tho author ofttho mc3v [ sage.".., ■' ... : '■-~. "'.'•'.'■' ■..'•:'■''."' . Is the To:Anau'going;6outli,:thenf h«l; was asked, ;; ;| ;■•;';'- r v. •:«■',v;~'A< ■•':'-.■■'■■'■, '■ ■"•, "I can't sa'y'posativcly, but it is'tilmost 'i'l' certain sho woii?t go. ;-I told tho To Anau: :• : ; ~ 'men thoir poiiitionv-tThoy'.got their notice '<.'; to quit on Friday,->and'<tbey should have ' 1' I finished up., nt midnight" tho earao day. : ;,', ,' When tho trbublo occurred' on ' the Maori , , I. went on'board tho. Te Anau-ahd;.ap- .';,'■; Ebolbd .to the.'.men:to.".take,'.th6"ship to'.',,'' yttelten," l because-a" nuniber- of j^peoplo":'/'. ! had bookod.in:j;ho Maori,dicing,unawaro' :■., ' of any likely trouble.. As a result of my,' '■: appeal the men agreed to go.to Lyttelton, : , In .other words, they,had their, notice , ;i extended. They havo kept faith with tlio .'■'.'■. company; they took.tho ship to'Lyttelten.v ; : and they havo' brought' her back again ;.;. : to ' Wellington.- '. Somo. ■ of,' tho r- : mea' : v :->, .'asked .-mo;- .to-day . whothor; ( ...that v ,;,, notice given them on Friday still held : .good. I said jt did,-and that th 6' men. '' 1 .wore entitled-to finish up at 5 o'clock^this. evening if'they wished. .'■''■£■''...'■''. : .. !'•'.'.', i '.-' "I advised,MrMConnedy also not to at-'; ,'i;. 'tetnpt to'send thd ; Monowai;back.to;Lyt-:.■"■;' telteu.'becauso'ifho' did'ther6' woilld' bo ; , • trouble. " If the; Monowai were osnt to ' ,■ ' Lyttelton, then sho would,havo completed < ; a round voyage, and the men could go to'.■;-;,.' tho skipper and; give. 24 hours' notico*': '■'''■■ What ■ about; the, MopourikaP,. tlio.j ';'. ■ porter, asked. ,I'v '■~■ •;■.■.'''.■/.. ", .'. .',{^" "As for the 'Map.,"''said Mr. Young,-,',->,' "she is out of tho question." '• '..'■'...■■ ,;'..:;■,': ;Tnii.'dihcp-S.hlp».V::.;'^'.7.'.'::•■; .'■■■'..'.''j Mr. Young's forcoast'.' of tho 'pcsitioi '; ' turned out to ho quite correct.' Six of tlia '\'j\ 'eleven firemen, greasers, and trimmers in s'<?\ .tho To Anau left tho.ship.'and now company will follow out tlw original in. : ;J temhon with' regard to this steamer—to : ?'■'?, pay off the crew, and lay tbe 6hip up. It was well understood that if the Mapourika *' was ordorcil, to .-Lyttelton 1 the: firemen '; -j ;would walkoxit'bf'hdr, and tho company , ] '.. i; no\-er seem to-havo thought of sending the': v .MonoWai. At any rate, tlio'Monowaf was ... receiving cargo, for Napiiir, Gisborac, and ,'' j ,i Auckland, and .passcngciß for those ports , : '-; wero being' found accommodation until•■-•■""'' shortly ;bcforo 5' p.m.;' tho. sailing hour, ' whcn'it' was';announced "that',,th«",ship; . v ;| wou(d';nqt leave until next dayj -Itwas; 'fii ,of confM;''runio\ired thatfiremcU'wero'thO' ■ | •cause of. the t delay, but,the fact was'that ' j tho Monbwdi Jiad'tb'rcceivo 6. great.deal ■■'.;. A ■of cargo, and','', 1 the', heavy ._rain' .""!) ■ had delayed the handling >■ 0/ l : it;--r--.-l •It; is • .intended; that -. sho;. will':' ■'•] leave this afternoon. Tho Mapourika also', . ■. j was not involved iii.tho-.troublo in "any'. -J :way, arid sho, Bliould leave to-day op ihcr. ' ' I usual trip to the -Wept Coast. ' About 1' ,vi ,'o'cloek, .long''aft«r:!',all idea '.of' getting the' - A 5 Mnorj out,had; been given up, sho was' J taken awny froju'her berth at'lne Queen's '\:\ ;• Wharf 1 and . tied ,up at the Clyde Quay ~; I .■Wharf.'.. .Tlio'.bhly reason for''the' move ; -H was that the'-,harbour authorities'wanted;; :;| the berth occupied by. tho. Maori for sonif- ":y: j vessel'actually'in,colnmissioriv; ;' "V '■' T ,j ■ ~,...;."'.;..:'.Th0 Next Question.; .;!. ■:.';. ■.'] . "Now," said Mr. Kennedy, manager of the Union Company,-: referring-.t0:,, tho ■ .: ;! ,Maori, "we havo to consider tho question. ' ' : :l ■ of,paying her off,,'' There is a big crowd'.;;.'-•:] of,„seamen .and steiwvds on that ship. '• \ Thoro has not ..been t)ie, slightest r sißii.tof \ ■ '■'■{ a settlement this afternoon, .The' 'flreiiien-i. -i held a iiieeliiig,:.! believe, and Uieyder, *< oided to hold to- their ■'■''• put tho To •Anau's (rjp '.bccnusc 'w».. ■-! foimdwe coiildn t get a crew for ho,r." '■'. 1 . In roplv;to other qiioslioh's,-''Mri-: ; - ~ nedy said-'(hat-the nicn.hadj-uo other -.' prievapcD. There, was Ho .suggestion of -an .;•. j lncwase of wascs. or nnylhu'vj}' of. -tjint-' - ! kind, As to tne v futurc;-.Mr..'-.'Ko'B'nedy'' :.--.-''

. said he had no opinions. He had no.idea o ;, what "would' happen to other ships. p •'There'll'bßTroubie!" fi ; A' general meeting of' the Seamen's '' /; Union was held last night. The meeting /.-■"■ was hot open "to. the press, but after,it' '.-.■■:■■ was oyer Mr. Young informed a Dominion ■ /■ reporter : that the position "was :unaltered. The' meeting had endorsed the taction of ... the -men, of- tho Maori. Asked whether ■'.'•there' was any likelihood .of tho Mararoa - being hold Aip in "Welllington,to-day, he ■;■;'!■■ "-,Baid-. that : -'he. knew of no, developments. The :: M6kola would arrive also, aiid' she e ','■ :"':■•,•■ would■■ go .south the same night.Von her V ' r ordinary running.' ■ "As long, ns ships v : ' ieep thedr. Ordinary running," he-said, • v'.'we w-iU take >o action,' but as soon as P v •the company takes boats off their, running h 'v 'to : .put;: them ■ into tho 'Ferry .- service, ,} '■■ th'ere'll'be-trouble."- -'■'■'■;' ■ ;: y'- -'"■ ' i ; ;: .VOn , 'the t other hand; it'is freely; stated' i " among seafaring men,,not members of tho " ..union, that trouble on tho Mararoa is a ° ■.-■possibility, byno' mean 3 remote, and that' c '■' there may; be : other ships held-up in i";; of firemen. .'. ."•:;.;; '-, ;; ; : :V;; f. Putting 'In'the'. Press. >■ It; would, appear; from a; conversation : from : this paper . had : . with" a member of' the crew of tne Maori , that! the men have a inore or less general '. ' ','.grievance;against the, press, and that it '.■'..'■'■ began with -the trouble, on board i the . : '- :. ship on Labour Day, when some foiir' I'"■■"'.:■ men,;got drdnk.'- ■. Some; news.l-.of the ' o'c- : . i; ■■. .ourrence,' and the inconvenience caused !?•'.:.■• by '-tho';;'- lapse : of some : .'of.' 'the. ■:' stokehold ; men was published in Christ'■.'•.ichurch, and Wellington.papers, but,". of s 'lx '■ "course;thena'mes'of.'the delinquents.wefo7 .'not .mentioned. The effect of this, they 0 claim, was to reflect on 1 the whole; crow..; y£. "'"lt ought io.be stopped—this putting h IV':,. things in. the press,"- said/the. fireman in- (. ■;V'V. dignantly.. "They exaggerate every little, C '-';/■• 'thing,-ahd"they:re'flect on. the character' ( -'-, ■'....' sf the whole crew.' f I_-.reckon': that; the I ; ,'i■■'ileady'.vm'enVon that ship have as,much h ''";;■;,.right their,characters protected. .-. I'Uv ti3 a-.Prihie Minister or a' Bishop. If s /■VrWme of the-men get drank the captain, t '•'■ ■■'. has his 'remedy;,',; He should ';■. 'sack the C ■ jnen who get drunk, instead' of telling ';•/;'-.things '.to'';thevreporterr, rwhich .reflect v; - : upon the whole .crew, There.aro a lot c ',:'. ■ 'of .steady ;hien; on. ; the ship,:and it's no 1 • '-e66d'-\to :us';,,sdme -.of mon . getting; .« "• - drunk and holding!the; ship'up. '-..• It only | , :■ -makes it harder -for us... I'm a'stauhch: ji .:-,-.;teetotaller myself,, and I can show., a f ,:•'•, reference for twelve years.,/ I've only * - .?'■■; hadrone jobV,here since I came to New - 'I % .'■ Zealand,: and that" son the 'iMaori.".. '.■,■/ i '■;.'/■-■ 'The.fireman in question, a young man,' :. E' " roduced a reference i' from,-an .English rm-witi.which he had ,been : employed : ;■'-■';' .-for.twelve, years. .■;•'; ''•;- . :''•;.:'' ■{ v % : . : :^: ;Ex»ra," .. .'; ( S • . •-. The : TTnion' Company offered the:fire- C i J : ., : 'inea.:'on':the,:Te';Anaui the;job ;on the '( b l -:. /yesterday;, and"it :Avas /refused h /',/ .joint blank/'';, ;' ; , /..; ''/"'"_/ ""■'. e /' .■ //; Seeking a reason for. this, a Dominion; i- ■ reportbr.'approached some of the ■ men, 1 [■ ' : and learned that they :were dissatisfied' n "/■': 'vwith ,the,'treatment .meted out to them v '"'., -.-.by'the-, company-after the way in which: , iv/- : L on Fnday'night, and ' v/Y taken/the //Te/Ahau;'to/Lyttelton; and j l : -•'•' - : .;• :', ; -'.' : •'i : /- i One man, a well-known member of the V , crew below.deck; said:/-/ When, the Te * Kri'- ; Anaucaine. alongside'the, .wharf _at, Weif v'. lingtoh' ohi ; hbr .arrival ;from/Picton .on r; ' > Friday night every, man of us "had a per/; , Wit feet right to walk-ashore-with/our things.- ;■: =/.-. ; ;'.'Wo/'had''' J ;j -• ' Kington and we .were' ,r prephr'ed'to'do^thls.- 1 ' ,: t v// ; -When we found that the/phblio were be-!':-':ingnli'uch inconvenienced :by'the crowd on '''■■■'■■ the thought''weiwbuld.do the ,' ?/: ; ;:.;fair i .thmg'and''take-the;-' ) Te/Anau:to>LyU ), B",//telt6n./'//-"■''■ '■■':■:■'■•'''}''. i!: - ■-'■/'"ii*:',''''"';"-''■■' '( r. :' /fWhoh we arrived: back in Wellington '2 I-'--;/ we-Xnaturally"thought/that./the'^Union; f !/'. '.- Company .would make, us some'concession ,j i'/- .for'helpmg them out of 'an'awkward'hole: 2 1 ■'■'■'■■■■ /What did -we find? : They,didn't.seem;to . ly.■:!■'■■ care a,jo.t; ; All;they 'offered us was.tlie j [-'/•': job, on 7 -theff Maori, v'.They '-thought; that \ I?./-'/:' that/was',;-good -.enough 'and' also -that we. :o c/.': would -jump .at it; i-Anyway,, they >were :" f ■: : .;rnistaken,u"AVe'.w6uld..ngt,go;in the'.Maori- .! f!':,- 1 because we reckon those.chaps have a'good r \;.': /reason/for .sticking-out .linder the cir- .1 {.".:' ■cumstancesi-:,"':■., •■<;.-:. -:'■■■',.■Vl :■'..'■'.' "'...''. 1 e ..;■ ../."It. is all-.yery .well:for the -papers'.to 1 t .-■•■■publish;things;about/us, : .as.-a'.,body,'that ',\ I ■//is/the '.thing:;we/.object to/ -;:lfvone:-6f. ,i I:; . -the ; chaps,:-happens -to get . out of: hand - 5 p,/',, ! nnd;'stick.-.up.' a/vessel, the whole'lot of j I'/- ;'us/aT6;.'mentioned, and; it/is stated that 'j K '//thaj.fiiiomen.',,on/such-and-such/.a/ vessel' fj .'stuck .her, up. --.Whatwe want tosee and. 5 K,':. what .none. of 'our,'chaps iwould iohject -to;? ft/..':.' ; wonW'-/bjj'i|:-',:th'e-'v/publicati6h/ of/../'the' -. | ; //;offendef's'"'/vname;/'/Let*'V. the ; /-blamed - ; |;,/-rrest'. on,, ; ;him,. /and:/ not/ lOnVlus/all.. j Ei.; . "Yon-can take my'-word for it.=that : this -] fr*S'i.tronb|o/:iV.'not'.igbihgVrto-/s'rob i .--!right-.:here. ] I, areVfighting for arprjnciple, nndvwe < j: /afa'going>to-get it' ; tbo.* ~Of. course' ; we \ I ;-'/: areisorry .f of'the'public,;,but.;if'the meii ( fc: of tho Union' fcv v Company/had.'given"'us';somethihg';extra ,'( j. :•■■■■■■ for -the'trottblewe went'to, instakiiig the" i '!■".[■ •'xe Anau : o'ut:on-Friday, 'she.wuld have « i;//:left/ to-night.'*'.,. • -;,., /;'*•,-/ : /;' . -;.:;■";/ 'j/-;/;: ; /K.Mr..Young and His Masters.:: V\ I":::/':'. Have, you .'/approached' ;the. Unioii,' Com- ] i?; " Jany with/ the.;, request/for,- some "con-. ; B: :: "'-'.r ' / j.--f,V-' / !/ >/>-' "No," 'was' the, reply, "if' the' men/did ! 5/ .'••'• go up to',the office, and'ask. for it one-by ; |...':; one only'.be; laughed at, ; ; :Mr; ! |// 'vSoung.is'the m>h who should do 'the ask- 'j t./Mhg.vif ;it has;to'.be,d6he.' r ' : He.is : secre- : '; j/Y/iary of the union."../// •v; ?. .'.-. ; |'.':, : ; •', -Th 3 , fireman ' then < proceeded to f blame ' j/ , ilr. js[qung for his handling of the'"affair. . J-. V At the close of this conversation the rev . I. •,' •porterrtveht - along' to: see "Mr.' Kennedy/ ■ r.:/;. and-toia him the .'position'; of the 'men on. h■:■..; the .Te Anau..; Mr.-Kennedy said: /'We extra 1 pay rT- or.ouchlike-things from the men' of the' f, ..Te Ahan-out of consideration for what I, ;.■■•;■ their, did on', Friday" night. This, is the • p. •"' first I have heard -bf it. Why. we have f./.-;-': offered them, the job on the Maori—the I . plum job "of the fleet! * What more do r///they-wont?''/' /.:-.../■ ./' -.-, , ; "// : ; Later on : Mr/Kennedy stated : that the ' ',;;.; captavn of.,the.Te.Anau/had.interviewed ,/: the men, and asked them what they want- ;;•':--.• ed, and he hiid received no reply; :;■■■ All day yesterday.the men employed in i' ';the'stokehold-bf the'Mapc.urika were .what' I'.-' an engineer rtemied.. : : "restless."/ As/the: [.-vessel wad:not. dotfn /to.\sail y'e'ste'rdny,, 1 ■'-. 'the : men '■/ wero on' ; an"ei3ht-ho.nr' ■ day' /-",; straight ,working. Somp nf this time they ; occupiwV in holding meetings in the fore- '.. castle,'discussing things generally, .v. - ;/.-'-- Yf--':-. ."". Crowds at Union Company's Offics,,','''■' )'■■■■ ./; Business.was brisk, in the Union Com-' . pany's: buildings'.yesterday a few 'mini , ntes after the nrrival of tho Main, Trunk ; ./-»xpress, and other trains from the couhK' !ry. Between"the'hours of I p.m. and 0 p.m. on an .ordinary afternoon.'the.-pas-senger' v clerks- v - are/ kept" busily • .'occupied, and particularly,"sb.at tho prese'nt'seaso'ni- : :'•/ \whon people are beginning tor Tetu'rn from thedr holidays. 'Yesterday was the or- / din'ary holiday rush, ■ but not a .'ticket ' -- ;Wos issued for the south. Between the ty '•";' hours mentioned .scores, of people wero I•'■'( seen entering the offices of .the company, ;: .only-to be told -,when they--got inside j; ■'■'; that there;were'"No Iwats for south tof". ■ iiight,.and no tickets."" The publio.wero %■- lined "up four nnd five dsep,: and lite- { comers craned v thoir necks to catch what r— was being said by the clerks. When ; those on the outer edge qf the 'crowd I ' heard:the news, such expressions as '. "Impossible," "Geo, that's red hot," !■"■'■ "What's the world doming to,',';" Well,. I ;■ .. never," were heard-qh''nil sides.'/' ;';',;,; f .'. One.batch.of liritehillris passengers' ap-' ?. perircd to ho very indiffnant, and one of < • their rSumber was heard to remark, "The I ■' poonor the. Government/.'take over/the fc. ferry service and run,it as a State con- [ cern the better.,.l have ;nevcr, heard.of , t'■ such.a thing. A.parcel.of men sticking [■' ■up a ship for n xhildish reason like this, • : -why, it's outrag*6us.".,/ Theso and.other *"' such remarks were''common, to which f;..': the Union Comnany's officials smiled, and '/■replied, "You know, just ai much about. 1 '".■"'. 'tho.whole affair.as we do." //, |'//' ' Scene on the Wharf, i -■•'■'•'• :It was on the wharf shortly before. 8 : ■ pm. where most ofthe commption/-,was, '■■'■ ■w'itne.wed. People"-■ wero"; seen wehdr i: ■"-''■ ' ln« their way-■ ..dpwn'' ?..fo Jhe i.plaeo "'- where the Maori should havo been. It ■''-was not until many of thorn had reached ; 'th°' wharf that they know that there wns /'-/ no'boat for the south. Then more.com- :"; plaints were heard? on. all sides. Women lV ;"' carryin" children and baggage hurried "-'"along, onlv to.find that; they hod-torn- ■':: 'turn Where, to they:"did-hot,'know,in; Jerome cases. ..When the position wns-real-. '"'■''• ised there was: a stnmpede towards the '/' Harbour Board's left-liiggngn shed, .and --"- tho tolls clerks wero-kept busy for a ,V ; v considerable time. When business censed If- - piled up with luggage

uf all kinds and descriptions. Then people wore seen" making for town, with the object, no dpubt, of seeking lodgings for the.night—and perhaps other nights to come. • ■ i ; POSITION AT LYTTELTON. ANXIOUS PASSENGERS FOB LONDON. (By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.) . . ' ~ / . Christchurch, January 6. Inquiries made to-night on the Mararoa elicited that no trouble with the firemen was expected, and that everything had worked smoothly during the holidays. Some people here who have booked their passages for England by the Ruapehu, leaving Wellington on Jannary 9, are getting anxious about their connecting. Ow■ing to the dislocation of the ferry service, there will bo 'no boat from Lyttelton tomorrow night.' This is only one. example of tho inconvenienco tho. dislocation must bo causing. -.