WELLINGTON – LYTTELTON FERRY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 10, 8 January 1913, Page 8

WELLINGTON - LYTTELTON FERRY.

THE MAORI STILL HELD UP. Wellington, January 7. The Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service resumed this evening with the sailing of the Mokoia at 5.15 p.m., with 430 passengers, and the Mar area at 8 o’clock with 565 passengers. It is understood that the Union S.S. Company to-day gave the balance of the Maori’s crew twenty-four hours’ notice that they will bo paid off. There is believed to be a probability that by tomorrow evening the Maori will be remanned and take up her running. A WELL-HANDLED RUSH. Christchurch, January 7. Tiie commissioning of the Talune to take up the running between Lyttelton and Wellington necessitated very strenuous efforts on the part of the ship’s company and the Union Company’s shore staff. The Talune was undergoing survey and overhaul, and these were hurried cn, only the necessary work below the water'line being done. The vessel had been denuded practically of all her cabin bedding and of her crockery and cutlery at Auckland, consequently bales of new blankets and sheets, pillowslips, and such like had to he ordered from Christchurch, whose available stocks proved barely sufficient to meet such a sudden demand. Full supplies of crockery and cutlery were obtained in Lyttelton and Christchurch. Most of the Talune’s stewards were paid off' in Auckland, as it was not anticipated that the ship’s services would be required til! she returned to that port. Very few men were available at Lyttelton, as several vessels had boon signing on now crews, but there were sufficient volunteers offering to fill the Talu ne ’ s vacancies.

The problem of obtaining a stewardess was solved by the engagement of a Lyttelton lady, who for many years acted in that capacity on one of the Union Company’s steamers. Everything was in readiness for the steamer to leave on arrival of the 7 40 train. Extra sleeping accommodation was made np between decks, and in order to comply with the Marine Depart men t’s requirements, an extra lifeboat was shipped from the collier Kamona. Mr. P. Caffin, formerly well known as purser in the Union Company’s Island and San Crane'sc o steamers, and now clerk in the Christchurch office, was engaged at short notice as purser, and had a busy time handling the largo number of .uassengers. As the accommodation was limited, preference was given to those who had hooked hy the Talnne or Maod. Practically every person desiring to travel got on hoard.