H.M.S PSYCHE HERE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1892, 29 October 1913, Page 8

H.M.S PSYCHE HERE.

UNFOUNDED RUMOUR AFOOT. H.M.S. Psycho arrived in nort quite unexpectedly yesterday morning, As she camo round Point Jerningham, she focusscd the whole comment of the strikers in tho Squaro and about tho wharves. It was about § a.m., and there were fully 800 men assembled about the wonted strike sites. Quite a number of strikers semed to be under tho impression that tho warship had been brought to Wellington in express conncetion with the labour trouble. This, it is understood, is contrary to fact. Tho Psyche berthed at the Wool Wharf —the usual jetty at which tho smaller

men-o'-war tie up when in Wellington. As soon ns she was alongside the strike pickets grew acting '1 liey told tlio sailors all about the strike from their point of view. When asked what all the trouble was about—whether it was wages or hours that the men had struck for —the pickets replied that it was "a matter of principle" for which they wero fighting. This statement seemed to be taken as a joke' amongst the bluejackets, and, a, little later, all immediate excitement vanished. During tlie day, however, tlio call of lI.M.S'. Psyche was discussed over and over again. By a certain section it was loudly mouthed that tlio cruiser "was not here for nothing." One could also hear weird remarks as to what would happen if the bluejackets did como ashoro to help the police. It seems, as a matter of. fact, that the sailors did not know that they were coming to Wellington, nor did they-inow anything about the trouble till they arrived in port. Later in the day the wharf waj cleared, and one. of tho Navy police was placed on duty at the head of the Wool Wharf. Last evening several of tho sailors were allowed leave,, and they camo ashore and mixed with the crowd.