MONTHLY SERVICE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 156, 15 April 1936, Page 3

MONTHLY SERVICE.

DIRECT SHIPS FROM JAPAN. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 14. Advice that the ' Osaka Shosen Kaisha will commence a direct monthly service from Japan to New Zealand at the end of May has been received. The line’s three motor-ships, Brisbane Maru, Melbourne Maru, and Sydney Maru, will continue in the service, but they will not call at Australian ports at present. Under the new arrangement the vessels will load at the Japanese ports of Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, and Moji. From Moji they will go to Itabaul and Noumea, thence to Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin, discharging and loading at South Island poits. From Dunedin the vessels will return to Wellington and Auckland to complete loading, and from Auckland they will be dispatched to Cebu and Manila (Philippine ports), Hong Kong, and 'Shanghai (Chinese ports), Kobe, Osaka, Yokkaiclii, Nagoya, and Yokohama. Under the new service the voyage from Moji to Auckland will occupy only about 18 days, instead of 37 days as at present. The Sydney Maru will inaugurate the new timetable. She will leave Yokohama on May 28, and Mopi on June 4, arriving at Auckland on June 22. After calling at southern ports she will return to Auckland on July G, and sail for Japan the following day. The three motor-ships are vessels of 5425 tons, and they were built in 1930. They are capable of a speed of more than 14 knots.