FAST STEAMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 124, 27 May 1932, Page 5

FAST STEAMING.

MARIPOSA'S RECORD RUN. TWO DAYS 17 HOURS TO SYDNEY. A new record for trans-Tasman travel has been established by the Oceanic Company's new liner Mariposa. By arriving at Sydney at S.lo a.m. yesterday the ship, which left Auckland at 5 p.m. on Monday, covered the 1281 miles in two days 16? hours, allowance being made for the difference between Australian and New Zealand time. The previous record of three days 23 minutes was held by the Royal Mail liner Niagara.

It was anticipated that the Mariposa would set new figures for the trip, as she had to reach Sydney yesterday morning to ke»p up to her schedule. The vessel is on her first voyage in the America-New Zealand-Australia service, and her times so far have been exceptionally good. Her average speed from Los Angeles to Honolulu was 21 knots and from Honolulu to Pago Pago 20V knots. From Pago Pago to Suva the liner averaged 19.1 knots and from Suva to Auckland 19 knots. It was stated before the ship left this port that she would average 19 knots on her run to Sydney.

The record for the run between Wellington and Sydney is held by the R.M.s. Monowai. In January of last year this vessel covered the 123S miles in just under two days 19 hours. As far back as 1897 the Moana went from Auckland to Sydney in three days 4J hours, her average speed being slightly under 17 knots. Fast times were the order when the Matson steamers, Sonoma, Sierra and Ventura, entered into competition with the Union Company's vessels, and the Sonoma once made the Auckland-Sydney crossing in under three days four hours. The first time the Tasman was crossed in under three days was when the Maheno arrived at Wellington in 190.3 two days 23 hours out from Sydney.

When engaged on a Pacific cruise two years ago the Matson liner Malolo made the run from Sydney to Auckland in two days 20 hours.