Liner Delayed

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 1

Liner Delayed

Customs Official Stays Behind and Man Nearly Misses DIVE THROUGH PORTHOLE A Customs official, engrossed in his duties, was responsible for a delay of over half an hour to the liner Maunganuj afterr*<*oxu • n# > When the liner had proceeded well down the harbour, on her way to Sydney, and stood off Hobson Bay, an agitated official realised that the liner was actually on its voyage. A launch was signalled for, the unwitting passenger let down by a rope ladder, and the vessel was able to continue on its way. It had turned back to a point nearly opposite Mechanics’ Bay. The vessel had originally started on her way shortly before 3.30 p.m., but was not able to head out to sea again until 4.10 p.m. As the near voyager was borne back to firm land on the launch, he was the object of bantering comment from groups of watchers on the wharves. Dozens of people were curious as to the delay. And the Customs official’s adventure was not the only incident before the Maunganui was safely clear of the harbour. As the liner was preparing to swing away from Price’s Wharf, and the gangway was almost down, a gesticulating man hurried through the crowd busy shouting its farewells to the passengers. He rushed on to the gangway, only to find, when reaching the landing that the flight leading to the liner had already been lowered. Sailors hastened to put the gangway in position for the man’s benefit. But he would have none of that. He clambered out on to the piles of the wharf, secured a grip inside an open porthole, and pulled himself bodily through. The latecomer did not suffer from lack of encouragement from the crowd, vv hich forgot its streamer-throwing, and cheered him. The latecomer appeared on deck when the steamer had swung well clear of the wharf, and bowed his acknowledgments to the crowd.