MANNED BY VOLUNTEERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1922, Page 5

MANNED BY VOLUNTEERS.

KAHIKA ARRIVES IN PORT. A LONG VOYAGE. “The scratch crew have done very well indeed,” said an officer on board the Kahika yesterday, when questioned by a Daily News reporter. “Of course the run up from Wellington took longer than usual, but the weather was against us. The sea in the Straits wn» very choppy and some of the men had to lay up owing to sea-sickness.” The Kahika had been detained at Wellington since Thursday of last week, eventually getting away for New Plymouth at 5.15 p.m. on Wednesday. The ship’s complement is usually nine seamen and four firemen, but on her recent trip she was two seamen short. Of th? volunteers who offered, three had beeiM to sea before. The rest were practically new chums and took some time to get their sea-legs, but nevertheless, stood up to their work surprisingly well. These volunteers are paid the usual union rate of wages. The Kahika made a rather slow passage to New Plymouth, arriving off the port about midnight on Thursday, and being berthed at six* o’clock yesterday morning. The captain says that it was one of the roughest trips he has had on thi# run, but, if it had not been for the wind, the vessel would easily have reached port on Thursday. The midday bell rang while the reporter was on board. One young fellow was busy at work with a rag, cleaning machinery, and appeared to take no heed of the dinner-call.

“Go on, Tom, and get your dinner,” said the officer. Tom seemed reluctant to leave his new-found job. but shuffled off. “That chap’s «, ’varsity student,” explained the officer. “They’ve evidently got holidays now, so he has offered his services as a seaman.” Evidently the spirit of adventure still animates college youths. Others among the volunteer crew include two young men from the Union Steamship Company*# office in Wellington, an accountant, a. fisherman, and the third mate of an American schooner.

Showers fell at intervals during the morning, but the work of discharging the Kahika’s cargo was proceeded with. A rumor that the watersiders would not work the vessel was evidently unfounded. as the labor required was forthcoming without difficulty. She has 680 tone of general cargo to discharge, including 1368 2001 b sacks of flour (approximately 122 tons), 20 tons of cement and 25 tons of tobacco, the largest quantity of “the fragrant weed” that has been shipped to New Plymouth for some time. The balance of her cargo consists of general lines, including transhipment#, mostly of hardware, from the Tainui, Canadian Explorer, and Middlesex. The vessel’s itinerary has been altered, and, after preceding to Nelson and Wellington, she sails for Dunedin direct, returning via the usual ports.