N.Z. SHIPPING CO.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 213, 8 September 1923, Page 17

N.Z. SHIPPING CO.

STORY OF ITS ORIGIN. FROM OLD FREIGHT CO. GREAT FLEET BUILT UP. (By HENRY BRETT.) LTV. ! More than 50 years ago there was [general dissatisfaction right through the I colony with regard to the class of tonnage then employed in the London-New Zealand trade, and the crisis came about Mhe year 1871. when two notable shipa (HrlVnelca and Bulwark) that arrived within a lew months of each other, delivered their cargo in a most disgraceful condition through damage by seawater, breakage, etc. In fact, some of I the Helenslea's cargo had actually to be 'dug out of her. The Bulwark arrived iafter a passage of something like nine months, having called at Mauritius en route, in a badly leaking condition, and so extensive were the necessary repairs I that the master had to resort to raising 1 funds under a "bottomry bond" before he could leave, the port. This was before the days of cable communication, and consequently when a shipmaster got intc trouble and put ! into a "port of refuge." he had either to wait the remittance, of funds by the j ordinary course of mail, after his owners had received advice as to his whereabouts and condition, or he had to mortgage his ship under a bottomry bond. BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK. ! These two notable ships were, so to I speak. "The last straw to break the camel's back," and the New Zealand merchants decided to set about placing themselves in a more independent position. That was in the old provincial days, when each province tried to "paddle its own canoe," and to such an extent was this carried out that it was actually suggested that each of the four chief towns should form its own small shipping company with a board of directors for each at this end, but with a general I board of colonial merchant directors in 'London to look after the outward business from that end. The Auckland and Christchurch companies were actually floated and necessary share capital subscribed. Many people are under the impression that the New Zealand Shipping Company, of Christchurch, was the pioneer ', company, but this is incorrect, as the I New Zealand Freight Company, of Auckland, is entitled to that place, it having been incorporated and registered on July 1, 1572. The directors were Dr. J. L. Campbell (chairman), and Messrs. Clark, Isaacs, Shera and yon der Heyde, and iMr. John Batger was secretary. The New Zealand Shipping Company was j incorporated and registered on January :6, 1573. I A meeting of shareholders in the ! Christchurch company was held on Janujary 24, 1873, to elect the first board of directors, who were Messrs. G. Gould, R. jH. Rhodes, R. Cobb, J. T. Peacock, John ; Anderson, Wm. Reeves, C. W. Turner and J. L. Coster. The lasfc - mentioned,who was elected chairman, was manager jof the Bank of New Zealand. In Lonidon the company was represented by ' Mr. C. W. Turner, manager, and Captain William Ashby, marine superintendent. AMALGAMATION. The Freight Company had out three vessels (Hylton Castle, 548 tons, Fontenoy, 636 tons, and Ferndale, 416 tone). It was then realised that to successfully compete with the Shaw, Savill and Co., united action throughout New Zealand and more financial strength were necessary. As both the Freight and New Zealand Shipping Companies were financed by the Bank of New Zealand an amalgamation was easily arranged, by which the Freight Company shareholders took up an equal interest in the Shipping Company. It may be asked why did not the Freight Company absorb the Shipping Company, seeing that the head offices of the bank and its two other off-shoots (New Zealand Insurance Company and New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company) were all in Auckland, and the financial strength was then without a doubt centred in Auckland? The reason doubtless was to gain the assistance and support of the Canterbury squatters, as they were then the chief exporters of wool and grain. Auckland's exports were at that time chiefly gum, flax and South Sea Island produce. Dunedin's trade, it may be mentioned, was chiefly with Glasgow, and the necessary tonnage was supplied by P. Henderson and Co. (Albion Company, subsequently amalgamated with Shaw Savill and Co. under the name of Shaw Savill and Albion Co.), and being a Scotch community the sympathies of the jDunedin people were then more with Glasgow than London. SMALL BEGINNINGS. The first vessel to arrive at this port under the New Zealand Shipping Company's flag (which was then a white sheet with the letters "N.Z." over j "S. Co." in blue—the St. George's cross , having been added later on I was the ship - Hindustan, 8:!: i tons, on November 17, i 1873. The first ships that the company i owned were four they purchased, and | in addition to the Hindustan, were the j 'Dorette. Scimitar and Dunfillall, whose | names were afterwards changed to Wai- I , tara. Waimea Rnngitikei, and Mataura. ! The first ships the company had built < wore the llakaia, Waikato. Waitangi and Waimate which were constructed under the supervision of Captain Afthby Of ' ! Blumcr at Kunderlnnd. In the next, batch built were the. Orari. Otaki, Humnui. Waipa and Wai.-oa, constructed by Palmers, of the Tyne. The last three ' vessels specially built for the company: wen- the I'iakJ, Opawa mid Wangamii. Two well-known boats they acquired Ivy purchase wore the Turakina (formerly • \he City .if IVrtlu and the formerly the White Eagle). j' INTO STEAM. it In lss:j ,l, t . company wont int.. Meam. jt In ilia I year it contracted with •'• j Kldcr an<l' Co. (FairflrM Works) for the - (■•instruction of the Tongariro, Aorangl, 1 Rirnmaka, Kaikoura, and Ruapehtl. ' but the service was actually started ' with tin. Hiarlcded steamers Bntisii i yawn. British King, loni<\ ' llta ' lonia and Doric. The Catalonia was < taken up for one voyage only in order to keep faith with the public ( >-ne Dories, delivery being delayed) and great expense was "incurred by the company in iitting her out with refrigerating machinery, the whole of which had to uc i removed when she was returned to lie owners, the Cunard Company. The am- . Vill of the Catalonia ill » w Zealand . marked the first appearance of the t,unaril fiug in those waters. , In is*i (he X.-w Zealand Shipping Company wore able to dispense wit i chorteral steamers, and they then ran a monthly service, with their own fleet.. As the trade increased the company!