THE NEWCASTLE MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 27

THE NEWCASTLE MINES.

♦ SYDNEY, January 15. Owing to a block of shipping traffic in. Newcastle Harbour the departure of /the '\Manuka for Auckland will be delayed until noon to-morrow. The Manuka has been at Newcastle since Friday last awaiting coal,, and although a. supply is lying alongside the wharf in railway waggons the steamer, up to last night, was unable to secure a loading berth. The Union Company, proposed to bring the Manuka back to" Sydney to coal, but found that jipnel W2s._<ay.ailabl«. -January 16. The fears .that th© -wharf labourers'strike at Newcastle "was-affecting tie interState companies is dispelled. Arrange- ' ments have been made^ between th© federated steamship-owners -and the waterside unions confining the I>Touble "to its present limits. In connection with the delay of the Manuka, the Premier (Mr Wade) is taking steps to prevent the congestion of trade at Newcastle -standing in the way of passenger steamers obtaining bunker coal. The Pelawmain mine has -been thrown idle owing to a dispute with the wheelers over- the 1 question of hours of starting and finishing work.January 17. The Warrimoo's departure ior Wellington has been postponed from 1 o'clock till 10 o'clock to-morrow night owing to inability to obtain bunker coal at Newcastle. A Dumber of other inter-State paseenger. steamers have been seriously delayed. Th© cause of congestion is dde to j « rush < for coal for vessels after the j recent strike. i * January 20. Thp Duckenfield, Burwood, and Shortland pits at Newcastle are again idle . owing to labour troubles.