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Taihape Daily Times, 20 January 1919, Page 5

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STRANDED NEW ZEALANDERS. VOYAGE ON TROOPSHIP. AN OCEAN PICNIC. ' ! *1? Of the New Zealanders who were “stranded” in Sydney through the shipping trouble about 100 reached Auckland on Friday by the steamer Durham. The vessel was lately been used a transport, and just brought back to the Commonwealth a large draft of original Anzacs. Seveuty-ste of the passengers belong to the South the remainder being Aucklanders. Many of them had been in Australia since the beginning of ■ November, and for . domestic and financial reasons were eager to get back. Although, some 'were /temporarily embarrassed during their enforced stay, there do not appear to- have been any acute cases of distress, among them, the more fortunate generously helping , those whose funds were running out. Two or three women took work in Sydney \fhile waiting for a boat. “But we might just as well have done that as wasted our time tand money doing nothing!” said one of these.. “I went out and did housework by the day, but there was no hardship about that-” The Durham left Sydney on January 4, and ran straight into a thunderstorm. Next day was beautifully fine, however, and hammocks were taken from the hold and slung on docks. Brisbane was reached on Monday afternoon, and immediately on arrival, an officer of the Queensland Government Tourist Bureau went aboard to give information tas to where the passengers could obtain accommodation ashore. All were soon comfortably settled for the four days’ stay. Arrangements had been made for the Government to provide financial assistance to any unable to pay for the stay ashore, but it is understood rhis was not required. The Durham loft Sydney again last Saturday and made a splendid voyage across. When the idc? of leaving by the transport was first mooted at ; a. meeting (of the stranded” (Nbw Zealanders, in Sydney, on January 2, it was explained that there was

no passenger accommodation on the troopship, and those travelling would have to put up with r#ugh-aad-ready arrangements and do their own work. This was readily agreed to by the passengers, but later on the difficulty was partially solved by the offer of free passages to two women willing to serve as stewardesses. The passengers included about 40 women, 60 men, and several children. Eighteen cots in the hospital ward were placed at the disposal .of the women, for which they paid first-class fare, £S 15s. The others contented themselves with hammocks, which, were hung on the decks, and in their improvised sleeping quarters managed very well indeed. There were none of the little acccsorics usually considered essential to the comfort of an ocean voyage, but no one seems, to have missed them in the least. "It has just been like an ocean picnic./’ exclaimed one woman passenger "and the officers and crew have treated us with the utmost kindness the whole time.”

The last night on board was made the “occasion of the presentation of an address to aCptain Watkins for the great courtesy and kindness shown by all the ship’s company, and to Mr. J. Beveridge, of Wellington, for activities on behalf of New Zealanders while in Sydney. Passengers by the Dm ham who arc in necessitous circum: "ances, and whose homes are between Auckland and Wellington, may obtain assistance from the Collector of Customs •at Auckland to the extent of the se-cond-class railway fare.