OUR STEAMSHIP SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 94, 22 April 1893, Page 5

OUR STEAMSHIP SERVICE.

INTENTIONS OF THE UNION

COMPANY.

Mr. James Mills, managing director of the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, arrived in Melbourne last week, on a few days' 'visit, to arrange with the local office for the further improvement of tho company's aervioas. Ibis company, says the "Ago," intends to generally improve both the San Francisco service and the intercolonial line with tho usual weekly departures from .Melbourne and Eobart, and although the directors will abaiidon the low f:ires hitherto charged, they propose to keep them down to as moderate a standard as will encourage travel, and at the same time prove remunerative, which tho late low faros were not. The extremely fast services do not pay, and a speed up to all fair requirements will be maintained. Similarly, the very low fares of the past season, while attracting a large trafhe, did not really pay the company, and would give no truo indication of the traffic undtr Strictly fausineaa rates. The establishment of the new Vancouver line is too far ahead to consider its effect on the San Francisco service, but the Union line will be nevertheless improved by the return of the Monowai to the intecolonial service, with gain to the latter, and the substitution of a larger and faster vessel on the American route. Tho Union Company has some 52 steamers afloat, and the fleet is to be supplemented by another large vessel, the Maori, of 4,000 tons, which the company has acquired for its special service between New Zealand and Calcutta, established some years ago. This line has been worked with some of the spare intercolonial traders, but the steamer now obtained, formerly running trom London to NewZealand, under the Shaw, Savill and Albion flag, will be placed permanently on the Calcutta trade.