INSPECTED IN STREAM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 3

INSPECTED IN STREAM.

VESSEL FRGIVi AUSTRALIA. WIRELESS REPORT NECESSARY

PORT DOCTOR'S EXPLANATION. Although it is now the custom for intercolonial vessels arriving at Auckland to undergo medical inspection at the wharf instead of in the stream, the small motovship Port Waikato. which berthed this miirning to unload cargo I'rotn Sydney, 'was boarded by the port doctor while she was at anchor. The reason why permission for the vessel to come to her berth before pratique bad been granted was withheld is that she is not litted with wireless, and was not able to advise the port doctor before her arrival that she was a "clean ship. ' When the Port Waikato passed Cape Brett yesterday morning she signalled her name and number, and also the fact that site was "clean." At least some members of the crew thought that this information would have been passed on to Auckland, and that on her arrival the vessel would be signalled to come direct to her berth. No such signal was given, and on her arrival last evening tlie ship dropped anchor in the stream for the .night. She was boarded by the port doctor this morning. "As the Tort Waikato has no wireless she was unable to inform me as to her' condition," sa' 1 Dr. Russell, the port health ollicer. when lite matter was referred to him this morning. "It was no use.'' he said, "the ship signalling information to Cape Brett. In any ease, the vessel arrived too late to be granted pratique last evening," he added. Until recently all vessels arriving from overseas were inspected in the stream. Under a new arrangement vessels engaged solely in the intercolonial trade are now allowed to conic direct to a berth, provided they have advised the port doctor within a specified time that they arc "clean.'' It has been stated that if the procedure proves a success it will lie extended to the passenger liners coming from Sydney to Auckland and sioing oil from this port to A ancouvcr and Los Angeles. Vessels arriving from countries other than Australia are still boarded by the doctor while at anchor, according to the old regulations.