Gabriella

[Alistair Kerr]

In April 1946 I did one round trip in the Gabriella, Wellington/Greymouth/Wellington as a Deck Boy. Once was enough. How were you expected tp keep the deck in the foc's'le clean when the wharfies were dumping tons of coal into No. 1 Hatch right beside your place of residence??
Who remembers "The Corner" that miserable office where we 'stood up' for jobs but didn't get picked? Does any old-timer remember Felix Newfield, the Union Secrertary with his shiny suit?
Cheers
KiwiAB

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Kiwi AB.
You don't say what other ships you sailed on the coast, or did you go on the home boats?
When I first got on the coast Finton Patrick was the President, Ghandi was in Dunedin, Anderson was in Auckland, Tom Martin in Lyttleton. I used to hate those line ups, while the mate picked the crew. You knew it was a waste of time standing for the likes of the Tofua for the island run, or the Ferries, as they picked the same blokes. I left before the union changed it to a roster system, which was much fairer.
Cheers Des

[Ray Manley]

I did not mind the "corner" it did not compare to the "pool" of Pommy land but I did ok when I stood and I got some good ships through it,including the "TOFUA" I sailed on the good ship for about 18 months, I got married while a crew member and still have a raintree table presented by the deck hands and it has many signatures on the underside of it. I left the Tofua to stand at the corner for a fly job to the UK,promising my new wife I would swallow the anchor if I got the job, and I did. we flew to the UK and picked up the small ship called at that time" Bay Fissher" we had a bulk cargo of salt bound for the Mount. A great trip, and yes I did keep my promise and came ashore. The "Bay Fisher" changed ite name after that.

My Wife and I just celebrated our 45th wedding anv. last month

[Alistair Kerr]

My first ship was the Taupata and my third was the Totara (1) both in the Anchor Company. Then I shipped out to the U.K. in the Fordsdale and joined the London Pool for four years.