MOANA'S EMERGENCY MEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1949, 5 January 1914, Page 6

MOANA'S EMERGENCY MEN.

"GREEN"' ; FIREMEN ON THE HIGH ~.,'■' .■^■>''--;-- ! . SEAS... *■.'■' » One of tho appalling number of lies circulated during the exciting times of tho strike was that tho Moana, which had left port for San Francisco, with a crew composod very largely of men who had not previously been to sea, had put back, and was lying at anchor in Worser Bay, Of course tho ship was making good speed every day, and arrived at 'Frisco in duo course. On Saturday she returned to Wellington. Tlsg experiences of the Moana's firemen were much the'same as those of emergency crows who fired ships to Sydney or Newcastle from this port during the strike. ■ Tho men worked willingly, but a considerable number of them were prostrated at first by sea-sickness. They also found the heat of tho tropics trying, but so long as they were able they stuck to their tasks pluckily, and those who were "knocked out" temporarily were replaced by. willing helpers among tho passengers. At Rarotonga tho stokehold crew was strengthened by taking on a few natives, who turned out excellent workmen. At San Francisco several of the members of tho scratch crew wore permitted to sign off tho articles, and two members deserted. No difficulty was experienced, however, in procuring men to make- up the full complement for tho return trip'. Tho ship arrived at Wellington a day after her schedule time, but the. delay was mostly attributable to tho fact that & good deal of cargo had to bo handled at Island ports.. .