DOMINION NEWS-

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1928, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS-

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association. MANUKA HELD UP. DUNEDIN, .March 8. Dissatisfaction among the crew of the Union Company’s steamer Manuka, owing to the services of a fireman being dispensed with, resulted in the vessel being unable to sail to-night lor Bluff and Melbourne. The man was given notice to sign off tho ship’s articles on her arrival at Dunedin, shortly before 1 p.m. to-day, from .Melbourne via ports. The remainder of the crew took exception to this, and the Union Company was unable to fill the vacancy, although there are a large number of firemen ashore there. The Company then had no alternative hut to give the crow twenty-four hours’ notice of the termination of their .services, and the men will lie paid off to-morrow. The .Manuka had over 190 passengers on hoard this evening. These included several travellers who are making the round voyage from Melbourne. .Sev-enty-five had hooked at Dunedin, of from Lyttelton, and 57 from Wellington. and an additional 80 passengers are hooked to join the ship at Bluff, so that over 270 people are placed in an awkward predicament. When it was announced that the departure of the .Manuka was postponed ioi.lcliiin.ely. the Dunedin passengers cairn* ashore mid returned to their homes. The passengers from .Melbourne. Wellington, and Lyttelton, remained on hoard to-night, hoping that the ship will sail to-morrow. The ineonnioiice io the passengers is all the ./lore annoying owing to the fact that there is no other steamer leaving New Zealand this week for Australia, the inter-CAiloninl service having been disorganised owing to the Ulimaroa being held up at Sydney. The plight of the Manuka’s passengers is accentuated owing to the fact that practically all Iho accommodation on the Mamma, to leave Wellington on March Kith for Sydney has been hooked. DIED ON THE ROAD. DUNEDIN. March 8. Bertrand William I'atil, a married man. residing at 3*14 Alain South Road, collapsed in that road and dieil at about 7.30 a.in. to-day. while on his way to work at the railway goods shed, where lie was employed as a clerk. Deceased was forty-six years of age, and leaves a widow and a family of eight. At an inquest this afternoon. before Mr J. R. Ifarllinlomow, S.AL. a verdict was returned Dial death was due to heart failure. OTAGO COACH. DUNEDIN. Alare'n 8. L. C. Eastman, the Otago C rick'f Association’s coach, lias been te-cn* gaged for next season. SHUNTING INQUEST. CHRISTCHURCH, Alaieli 9. How Horace Gordon Grose, a railway shunter, met Ins death at Middleton yards on February I7th was investigated by Coroner Mosley, S.AL. to-day. Frederick Ernest Taylor, who had (barge of the shunting gang, said he had no idea of the speed of the truck. One could not regulate the speed ol trucks and some might got away completely. The Coroner—ln only one case on my recent visit to the yards did I see a truck handrail not covered by a tarpaulin. Was the truck in question covered'.' Witness —Yes ; down to about six inches from the bottom. Felix W. Riley said that lie was en gaged in braking waggons as near as possible to the bottom of the hump. Close grabbed a tarpaulin with olio hand and swung himself on to tile front of a truck on the south side, lie laid one foot on the brake. His hand ~,.,*1 11, *,| jo slip away Iroin the canvas*. Tin* irurk \v:is moving at Iroin five to six miles an hour. The accident happened in a good evening light. FOUND SHOT. HASTINGS. March 9. Alfred Edward Billion, an auctioneer, aged about 50, left his home before breakfast this morning, and not returning Ids 13 years old son went to look and found him dead in _ r. shed at the. hack of the house, with a large gunshot wound in the left breast mill a single barrelled gun alongside. Deceased was prominent in business circles. He leaves *i Lint ilv of four daughters and three sons. AiAN UK A HOLD-UP. DUNEDIN. Al arch 9. 'Chore is no settlement in the Manuka dispute and if the firemen are not available the crew will he paid olf hut there are some hopes ot *'• settlement late this afternoon.