OUR HOME TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 246, 16 October 1889, Page 3

OUR HOME TRADE.

INCREASE OF SHIPPING.

It is encouraging to note that the trade between the colony and the United Kingdom has of late so greatly increased and assumed euch proportions thattheshippingcompaniea are chartering numbers of additional vessels, both large cargo steamers and sailingships, to meet the requirements of the growing commerce. The two direct steamship companies a short time ago, it was announced, had chartered six new cargo steamers, aggregating 24,000 tons, for the conveyance of colonial produce Home. The Uew Zealand Shipping Company's chartered steamer Duke of Westminster, a fine vessel of 3,726 tons net register, will be probably the first of these new vessels to visit Auckland. She ia fitted up with refrigerating apparatus, and has special chambers for the preservation and conveyance of dairy produce a new departure in the Anglo-New Zealand trade. She is expected out in the colony about the end of the year and is to load up at the variousNewZealand portsfor London, leaving for Home about the end of January. The agents of the Duke of Westminster are already inviting applications for space from intending shippers of ■ dairy produce and other freights. She will be followed by two more steamers, and the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company will have three, the two companieshaving arranged toload their steamers each alternate. At the end of January, accordingly, the Duke of Westminster will be followed by a Shaw, Savill steamer, to leave the colony in the end of February next. \^'ibh the additional steam tonnage at their disposal the companies expect to be able to despatch Home at least 4,000 tons more cargo every month than is at present shipped. Auckland will be visited by direct steamers much more frequently than in the past, for it is certain that one of the large cargo steamers of the Companies will call here each month.

The New Zealand Shipping Company just now have twenty-four large sailing vessels engaged to load at the various ports in the colony for London and New York—two of the vessels for the latter port—between the present time and the end of the year. The majority of the ships load in tho South with wool and grain for' Home. The Bessfield, a chartered ship of 1,298 tons, will he the next sailing vessel on the berth hero for London, after the despatch of the ship Crusader, now loading.

The New Zealand Shipping Company are also reviving their New York direct trade, which was allowed to dropsome years agoovving to the slackness of shipping business be§ tween here and the United States. Of late tho trade has increased with such rapid Btrides, mainly owing to the great demand for New Zealand dressed flax, that the Company have just decided to place sail ing vessels on the berth for New York again. They have already two vessels definitely fixed for the U.S. metropolis. The barque Lurline, now due here from London, . will, on the discharge of her London cargo, load kauri gum and flax for New York, and will leave here about the end of the year. The other vessel is the barque Hulda, which is to load gum and flax at Wellington. Additional vessels will be placed on the New York berth shortly, the demand for the tonnage fully warranting it.