AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1907, 15 November 1913, Page 7

AUCKLAND ACTIVITIES.

WHARF WORK INCREASING. AMPLE LABOUR. END OF THE HOTEL STRIKE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, November 14. A foature of the position in regard to the strike is the increasing activity of the shipping and the handling and transportation of cargoes to and from the wharves. All work is now proceeding with remarkable briskness. In addition to the complete resumption of tho coastal services, other steamers arc being brought alongsido without delay or hitch, and there is ample labour available for handling cargoes with commendable expedition. Carting operations are busier than usual on account of the acute congestion, and thereis a regular stream of vehicles passing both ways. Drivers and vehicles are sufficiently numerous to cope with the intense pressure of work. In addition Nowcastle coal from the collier Kurow is boing discharged direct into trucks, and butter for shipment on the Opawa for the London market is being brought to the ship's side by railway vans frnm tho freezing companies' works. In the meantime it is not intended .to' utilise the King's >AVharf■ or 'the Hobsoti Wharf for general shipping; but to keep occupied all tho. available berthage at the central wharves, and te un-, load vessols according to the .urgent demands that exist for'tho particular cargoes carried; The Talune arrfved from the Cook and Society Islands this morning, and soon after berthing nt No. 2'jetty a start.was made to discharge the large consignment of bananas and pines on board. The fruit will go into local consumption without any delay. ; ■ Full Cangs on the Opawa. The liner Opawa reached port early this morning, to load frozen produce for London, and berthed at the Queen's Wharf. Full gangs were promptly put on loading butter, flax, and other cargo, and simultaneously the collier Ngahuta was engaged supplying the necessary coal for the trip; The liner will take away from Auckland a record shipment of 40,000 boxes of butter. When, tho first sling of butter went up this morning a large gathering of farmers present raised a hearty cheer. Produce is still being discharged from the Ennerdale, and from the Wanaka. The kotch Kereru is loading stores for Niue, and the work of discharging coal from the Kurow is still in progress. The chairman of the Harbour Board stated this morning that there was no foundation for the report that the master of the Tongarirp had expressed somo hesitancy about berthing. The New Zealand Shipping Company's was anxious to have the vessel berthed but up to the present time the board had not seen its way clear" to provide the necessary accommodation. This afternoon the steamer Clan Sutherland, of the Scales Line, arrived at Auckland from Newcastlo, bringing a full cargo of coal. After discharge hero the Clan Sutherland is to take a transhipment of nickel ore- for Hamburg from tho barquo Clan Macfarlane. It is probablo that the Clan Sutherland will load some general cargo here bofore sailing. Cargo to and from the coastal ports is being handled at tho eastern jetties. Large quantities of produce that have been held up by the strike are being brought forward, while stores urgently needed by settlers aro being forwarded as' quickly as possible by local provision merchants. Work at Onehunga. Loading operations on tho coastal steamers Eimu and Claymore were carried on at Onehunga this morning without "interference or incident of any kind. A supply of coal, sufficient for tho Karawa, Rimu, and Claymoro has come te hand, and arrangements are being mado to secure crews for tho three vessels. Harbour Board Employees. A report in circulation that all the Auckland Harbour Board employees are out on strike was referred to by Mr. G. H. Gunson, chairman of the board, this morning. In the interests of the large number of employees who had remained loyal, ho gave tho report an emphatic contradiction. Tho men on strike, ho explained, only represented workmen on some of tho outside jobs, such as the reclamation work and tho Queen's Wharf construction. The harbourmaster's staff, traffic manager's staff, and engineering and secretarial staffs, to the number of about ICO, wero absolutely loyal, and wore standing by the board splendidly. This was evidenced by the fact that tho whole of tho board's storokeeping business was going on) without a hiteh. Tho usual night and day watches were being maintained, and the floating plant (including the launches, pilot services and fire-float) were all in commission with permanent hands.