MOVING WELL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 226, 23 September 1936, Page 7

MOVING WELL.

NEW MOTOR YESSEL.I MATUA APPROACHES PORT. SHOULD ARRIVE ON FRIDAT. Advice lias been received in Auckland that tlie Union Steam Ship Company's new motor vessel Matua is making good progress toward Auckland at a faster speed than her officers anticipated would be possible. Slight damage to the rudder and port propeller, received when the vessel struck a reef in the harbour of Aitutaki, in the Cook Group, last Wednesday evening, was expected at the time to necessitate a considerable reduction in running speed. The company's office in Auckland anticipated that the Matua would arrive here on Sunday, but more definite advice indicates that'she will make port some time on Friday. After unloading a cargo of fruit she will probably be placed in dock at Devonport for an inspection of the damage caused by the impact with the reef. The vessel left Auckland on September 10 for Kara tonga. Aitutaki, Aitu and Mauke, Cook Group, and was due back next Tuesday. Her speed of 17 knots enables her* to accomplish the round trip to Tonga, Samoa. and Fiji in 14 days, and the trip to the Cook Islands in the same time. She has accommodation for 39 passengers, and on her present trip carried i 8 from Auckland. It is believed that the vessel is doing about nine knots.