WORK ON LYTTELTON WHARF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1913, 22 November 1913, Page 7

WORK ON LYTTELTON WHARF.

PROCEEDING QUIETLY. DORSET AND NORTHERN UNLOADING. (By Telegraph,-Frees Association.) Christchuroh, November 21. 'It was confidently expected by the people" of. Lyttelton -that spccial con-: stables would occupy the port this forenoon and the non-arrival of these guardians of the peace was tho subject of much curious comment. ■ Tho watersiders took the precaution of sending out scouts along the Governor's Bay, and Summer Roads, by either of which tho mounted force might enter Lyttelton, but tho scouts saw nothing. Tho Maunganui arrived from Wellington at 7.30 a.m. witli a fair complement of passengers, including a few recent .arrivals from Britain. ' Among the passengers were Sir James Mills, managing director, and Mr. C. Holdsworth, general manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, who ' wero en route for Dunedin. Neither was prepared to malco any statement concerning tho strike. Close upon tho heels of the Maunganui came the big Federal-Houlder-Shire liner Dorset, from Liverpool, via Australian ports, with genoral cargo. She was brought in by tho tug Lyttelton with great pomp and circumstance, and was berthed at No. 7 Wharf. The unloading of tho Dorset's cargo was commenced at about 10.30 a.m., the crew attending to the work in tho hatches and at tho . winches, while permanent railway hands worked the trucks. Four pickets watched the operations passively for a while, and then departed, presumably to report to the Strike Committee. There was no attempt to communicate with the Dorset's crew and two policemen on duty on tho wharf had no occasion to exer- ; cise their authority. The American-Australian chartered liner Northern continued discharging this morning and thoso at work upon her wore not molested. The strikers aro apparently more interested in the arrival of the special constables than in proceedings on tho wharf just at present. Whether they aro interested or not they have kept studiously away from the waterfront since Tuesday's episode, only sending out a few scouts occasionally.

Tlio Dorset worked two hatches this morning and affcor the work had been proceeding for about an hour it was decided to open up a third. There wero not enough permanent railway hands available to mako up tho tl'ird truck gang, and it was decided to obtain tho services of three casual railway hands to help in tho work. As these nien wero on the way to No 7 wharf they were intercepted by striko pickots, who told them to look out for troublo if they worked tho Dorset's cargo. The men explained tho position on their arrival at No: 7 wharf, and aftor a short conference, in which tho ship's agent and the stationmastor took part, it was decidcd that it was not worth while to risk a disturbance Tho third hatch, therefore, was not opened, and tho casual hands were not employed. Tho To Anaii, which is to serve as a boardinghouse' for tho Arbitrationist workers during their projected sojourn in tho port, was brought into the inner basin shortly after 6 a.m. to-day, and anchored botween a couple of buoys in tho south-western corner of tho harbour, near tho graving dock. Seventy-six special constables wero enrolled at the Magistrate's Court this morning by Mr. it. W. Bishop, S.M. This brings the total enrolled at Christcliurclrto date up to 620, most of whom are in camp at tho Addington show grounds. Four Permanent Artillerymen, in charge of two wagons carrying equipment and forage for tho "U" Squadron camp at Tai Tapu, wero held up by striko pickets in St. Asaph Street this morning. The men had diverted to Geddies' Store, to pick up supplies and some stray pickets stopped them and asked them their business. The pickets refused to believo that the wagons wore bound for anywhere but the "specials' " camp. They had evidently got hold of an erroneous impression that tho Defence Department is taking an active part in its organisation. Eventually the wagons got clear, and proceeded on their way to Tai Tapu. Operations wero started to-day at tho strike committeo's store, Manchester Street, where sixty loaves wero provided for distribution. These were presented by a city, mail, who has fiivcu

an order to the baker to supply the same number weekly, A moinber of the Cliristeh-nrch strike committee informed a reporter this afternoon that tlio shipping authorities at the port, having declined to supply sufficient coal for the steamer Defender to take her to Westport- with a cargo of provisions, tho striko committee is attempting to make .arrangements to get the coal from somo other source.