SHIPPING THE RACEHORSES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 8

SHIPPING THE RACEHORSES.

ON S.S. MAUNGANUI, THE SCENE AT THE SHIP'S SIDE. Much interest- centred on tha Union Company's intercolonial steamer Maunganui at Wellington yesterday. She was the first vessel to arrive in port, and tako cargo in strike time. During tho afternoon tho news spread that a number of racehorses were to be shipped to Lyttelton. There was naturally a good deal of suppressed excitement on the waterfront, and everywhere tho question was asked: "Will they do it?" Soon word wont round that tho Maunganui was to bo shifted from the Queen's Wharf to a berth at tho Railway Wharf, opposite H.M.S. Psyche. At 6rst it had been thought' t ! at iho Maunganui would leave the Queen's Wharf at 3.30 p.tn., and everyone on board had looked forward to that 1 our. The time passed Jowly, and nt 4 p.m. Captain Worrall was seen to mount the bridge, and the officers and crew-took up their stations.

"Stand by" was rung on the enginerom telegraph at 4.'7 p.m. "Let gol" came from the bridge three minutes later, and at 4.12 p.m. "Slow astern" rang. ' The Maunganui had commenced on her short journey to the Railway Wharf. Tlio passengers arranged themselves in twos and tlrfeos at points of vantage along the decks, and discussed tho situation. Slowly the big steamer moved out.

All eyes on tho steamer were turned to tho Railway Wharf, and everyone was anxious to catch a glimpse of mounted police, strikers, special racehorse train—in fact, anything at all eoimccted with the strike.

, Presently ■ those oil dcck observed a line of mounted men stretched across the cnfranco to the Railway Wfosrf. "There they are. That's them," called a lady passenger. All eyes were turned in the hirection indicated by her outstretched finger, A train whistle was Ileardj and again excitement rose. "Geo," said an ulmlistakablo American voice, "that there puffer's having somo trouble, I guess. Wonder if that there crowd will let hor through." Soon, however, the "puffer," with 14 vans attached, came into view, and backed down tho wnarf. Meantime fiie Maunganui was drawing up alongside, and, when she hail tied up,' tlio train was already in position for tho horses to be, taken out. ,

When all was ready a couple of slings of hatch covers were landed on the wharf. Immediately willing hands piled thciji on top of ono another, and a landing for the horse-boxes was quickly completed. Tho permanent hands of the Union Company's shore staff did tho work, and they were assisted by the men who wore in charges 'of tho horses. All hands worked with a will, and orders wcro carried out promptly. "All right, now," came tho word from Mr. ,T. Ourrio, • foreman stevedore for the Union Company, and tho truck door was lot down. After a little coaxing a beautifuljooking animal entered tho horse-box! With tho horse's attendant inside. It was at onco hoisted up. Tho loading then wojit' on without interruption, thirty-two horses being hoisted in succession. After the first three or four hoists the passengers, who had been interested spectators, dwindled, and save for the men employed in the work of shipping, nobody recained. With the exception of the horse attendants, Union Company's officers, and a few polico, no one else was allowed on the Railway Wharf during operations. The Maunganui arrived back at the Quen's Yrlmrf at 7.30 p.m., and after embarking passengers ami having taken on left for Lyttelton at 8.40 p.m.