STEAMERS HELD UP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 197, 15 May 1919, Page 6

STEAMERS HELD UP

MAORI, MANUKA, PATEENA AND WAIHORA TRIPS DELAYED AND CANCELLED An unexpected development arose over the sailing of the Manuka from 'Wellington for Sydney last ni;r ; t in consequence of which the v. •■•: had to remain in port overnight. ; s now fixed to sail at noon to-day. The crew, who have been released from hospital or quarantine at Somes Island as they became free of sickness, refused to sail last evening unless three remaining convalescents at Somes Island were transferred to tho Wellington Hospital. The men alleged that 1 the conditions under which patients and contacts have to live while on the island is not likely to speed on recovery in the case of illness or to safeguard the health of those under observation. For this reason they want the men now on the island removed to the City Hospital, where there is a better chance of a quicker discharge. The demands of the men—the sailors and fire, men—were put before tho Public. Health

Department, but no authority was forthcoming to sanction what was asked. The reason given was that besides probably endangering tho lives of the men bv changing hospital in their present condition it would lay the general public open to infection. The decision was arrived at late last night, and the de- ( parture of the Manuka had to be postponed in view of her crew, adhering to their demands. The Manuka has 3SO passengers nil told, including 180 from the .Makurn. ; , The trouble with the firemen on the Manuka was not by any means all that tho shore'officials of the Union S.S. Company had to contend with yesterday. 'The Lyttelton.ferry boat Maori did from Wellington last night. Seven f.reniei were wanted to complete the articles at the usual time of her departure for the south. All efforts to obtain them were futile, and the only course left to tho company was to cancel the trip. The passenger list was a heavy one, there being 350 names all told. The I'icton-Nelson steamer Pateena was delayed here for five and a half hour' yesterday while one fireman was found to make up tho requisite number of men. The vessel 6ailed at 7 o'clock last night. Another vessel which met with delav for much about the same time as the Pateena was the intercolonial collier Waihora. She anchored in the stream about noon yesterday, and after a long search a, fireman signed on the artielw and Use ship got away in the late afternoon.