THE DREDGER MAUI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3558, 25 June 1912, Page 5

THE DREDGER MAUI.

SIGHTED PASSING OPOTIKI. [ FAIR WIND AND SMOOTH SEA. BUT SHE.WAS HUGGING THE . SHORE. [PEE TRESS ASSOCIATION.! AUCKLAND, June 24. ' A telegram from Oliiwa, near Opotiki, states that a large steam dredge, no doubt the Maui, passed at 1 p.m., bound north. . OPOTIKI. June 24. < The Gisborne dredge Maui passed Opotiki at 1 p.m. to-day in fair wind and smooth sea, but she was hugging the shore. . “ ANXIOUSLY AWAITED IN AUCKLAND” SHOULD THE MAUI HAVE BEEN DESPATCHED? SURPRISE IN AUCKLAND SHIPPING CIRCLES[PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND,'June 24. ! 'l'he unpleasant weather which was I experienced last week became much worse on Saturday night, when the wind veered to south. A heavy gale blew throughout the night, and continued with more or less violence on Sunday. Stormy weather is reported on both the East and I Vest Coasts, and shipping has been interfered with to a considerable extent. The Gisborne Harbor Board's dredge Maui, which has been awaiting a favorable opportunity to sail for Auckland, was despatched early yesterday morning. In view of the loss of the Manchester recently, the insurance companies were loth to accept any risk.,.on the vessel, and some difficulty was met with in finding' a crew. Considerable surprise and some perturbation is expressed in shipping circles at- the Maui having left nort in such unsettled weather, and her arrival - will be anxiously awaited. She was reported at East Cape at 9 p.m. yesterday, and passed Olmva at 1 p.m. to-day, bound north. CREW HAD TO JOIN A UNION. AN INTERESTING MARINE REGULATION. Just before the Maui' was ready to take her departure it was found that under a new marine regulation all the men carried on the dredge must belong to the Union. A telegram -was sent, therefore, at. once to the Union s secretary in Wellington, asking that Orr, one of the firemen, who is a Union man, should be appointed a delegate to sign on the remainder of the crew- This was agreed to, and the next day the whole of the men joined the Union and signed the ship's articles. The mate who had been engaged some three weeks previously, was taken ill at the last moment, and Mr Cederwall and Captain Sewell kindly agreed to lend the services of one of their officers for the trip. “THE PROOF OF THE PUDDINC ” SOME REMARKS BY MR. MACDONALD. The P.A telegram from Auckland was brought under the notice of Mi - McDonald (Engineer-Secretary to the Harbor Board last night |-te said that no ether difficulty arose as to the crew excepting that it was found necessary to see that thev joined a. union, as is stated m another portion of the report. Dealing with the question as to the meteorological conditions, he emphasised the point that special reports had been obtained to guide the Board. “The proof of the pudding,' lie said, “will he in the eating, and as the wires point out the. Maui was experiencing tolerably good weather. Air McDonald said further that on each of Mr Bates’ wires the indications were that the conditions u ere improving. His last wire as iar as lie could remember off hand, was to expect squally weather from the south, but n hen that passed it would be all right.