FRUITGROWERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1944, 28 November 1906, Page 2

FRUITGROWERS’ UNION.

Mr W. Fraser,, who was secretary of the local branch (now defunct) of the Fruitgrowers’ Association, has received the following letter from Mr J. Henry Mackie, general secretary of the Auckland Fruitgrowers’ Union : “ Dear Sir, —Some two months ago the Agricultural Department intimated that it was contemplated holding an International Conference of Fruitgrowers in Christchurch in March next, and that as the department’s officers would be busily engaged in preparing for that event, they would not be available, as heretofore, to prepare papers for, and attend the annual conference of the Union, usually held during November. In consequence of this information it was almost unanimously agreed to hold our conference at the usual time, but to transact only such matters as the receiving and adoption of annual

' reports, and to elect officers for the new year, the sitting to be confined to one day only. Last week advice was received that the proposed Intercolonial conference had been abandoned by the department, on account of the ex- - pense involved. Acting under instructions from the executive I have this day written the Minister of Agriculture asking him to give effect to the original intention to hold the conference at Christchurch, and pointing out to him the undoubted I advantages of such an important gathering, and at the same time explaining that our owu conference has been practically spoilt, because it is now too late to make the necessary arrangements for carrying it out in tho [ usual manner. The executive desires that each Association, and such, private members of the Union as appreciate the importance of the matter will write to Mr MeNab, and urge upon him to carry out the original proposition, at all events as far as tho interprovincial conference is concerned.”

Any resident of this district can join tho Auckland U nioii on payment of an annual subscription of ss. Those who hold office in the local branch of the Union should take soma

steps to support tho Auckland Union’s request for an intercolonial or into** provincial conforonco.

I'UKSS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, yesterday. The Shaw-Savill steamer Mamari tva; being flouted out of the Calliope deck this morning, when she suddenly toppled over it is presumed owing to the shores giving way. Several men were thrown into the water, and two are missing. Later. —The Shaw Savill steamer was being doeked. As the water subsided it is presumed the blocks gave way, The steamer slipped forward, causing an enormous displacement of water in the dock. Nearly fifty men, employed scraping tho sides of the vessel, wero washed into the dockClark and May, two single men. tire behoved to have been drowned. About sixteen others were injured, some seriously, and liavo been conveyed to the hospital. Tho Mamari is apparently uninjured. Additional particulars show that when the Mamari canted the water was level with tho rolling chocks. Tho sudden subsidence caused a huge wave to sweep up and down the dock, fifty men being dashed about among the floating pontoons and shores. Many were dashed against the concrete sides of tho dock, and then carried against tho vessel, their injuries being thus caused. The two men missing were working at the rolling chocks, and it is surmised are below these.

A worse accident was averted by the fact that more of tho shores retained their positions, thus keeping the vessel upright, otherwise many more would have been crushed

All the available ambulance, cabs, and Ashford litters were ready on tho wharf to meet tho ferry steamer Osprey as she came from tho dock with a number of badly injured men. Those whoso injuries permitted it were placed in cabs, and others badlv injured were removed in ambulance vans to the hospital. Divers are searching the dock, .but so far no trace of tho missing men, W. May and It Clark, has been found. Both wero residents of Ponsonby. The names of the men injured arc: Franklin, W. Knox, 11. Taylor, Western (seriously), Kenneth, Scott, Jules, Langley (2), J, Mayall (seriously), Boynton, Carson, G. Evans, S. Austin, J. Anderson J. Wilson, J. Clarke, G. Smith (both legs frtiStured), Carr, Monaghan, Flanagan, S.. Granrose.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. PRESS ASSOCIATION Auckland, last night. The Sbaw-Savill and Albion Company’s steamer Maman, when being doeked in Calliope dock, jest belore 12 o’o'ook today, settled down and surged forward, oausiDg a sort of tidal wave in the dock, Sooio fifty men wore at tho time sotaping Bnd paintiog on* stages alongside of the steamer, and a very large number of them were swept into the wafer. Two men are missing, and they are believed to have been drowned, and many ethers were injured, some of them seriously. The Mamari had entered the dock at high water for the purpose of being repainted. As tbs tide receded nearly fifty men were busily engaged in washing the ball as-a preliminary to painting, when, without the slightest warning, tbo bog? bulk of the five thousand ton steamer slid bodily forward about four feet, and settled down upon the dock bottom. The water at the time roaohed to about the vessel s bilga keel?, but when the Mamari settled down in euoh a sudden manner the extra displacement raised a oommotion similar to a tidal wa7oi which swept baokwards and forwards w tho narrow basin, overwhelming the workers in a terrible confusion of drifting pontoons and broken timber. The men who bad been sorubbiog the iron hull wire in on instant engulfed in the set thing water turmoil, whioh awipt them helplessly against tho oemoDt sides of the dock, and threw them back to tho iron hull with teniblo force. Few escaped mjary, and at lens* two moo woro either killed or drowned. It was with a crashing noise that the bulky vessel made a fatal forward move, and 1129 wondof was that aha did nos rip out all tho wooden shores which propped her in an upright pooition. A number of shores fell, but luckily the majority held. The Mamari fortunately kept the perpiendioular position, and tho men who Xere struggling in the water wore meroi, tully spared tho terrible death of crushing between tho ship and the dook sides. When all the workmen floating bad roaohed the dock side and tho water had beoome oalm, there was a baity muster of the roll and the disoovery made that two men were miaaing, who had been working near the vessel’s rolling ohooks. Their names were— . . Clark, painter, aged 22, living in Ponsonby, unmarried. . May, painter, aged 22, aiso living in Ponsonby, and unmarried.