UNUSUAL CARGO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 264, 7 November 1932, Page 5

UNUSUAL CARGO.

REFRIGERATOR WAGONS. SHIPMENT FROM GISBORNE. RAIL TRACKS IN SHIP'S HOLD. An unusual cargo in the form of nine refrigerated railway wagons was brought to Auckland by the Union Company's cargo steamer Kini, which arrived from Gisborne on Saturday evening. In stormy weather the cargo might have presented some difficulty, but the vessel's run up the coast was made under favourable Condition-s. This morning the Harbour Board's floating crane Mahua was taken alongside the Kini to lift the trucks on to the Queen's wharf.

The wagons arc being transferred to other parte of the North Island from the Gieborne section of the railways. The practical abandonment of the Taruheru freezing, works has made it unnecessary to maintain this type of equipment on the Gisborne line, as there is little other perishable traffic, and the wagons are to be transferred to lines where they will be of more use.

The etowing of the wagons on board the ship was a ticklish job, even though the Kini, which has her engines aft, has an unusually large hatchway. The vehicles, the largest of which weighed just on 14 tons, were placed in the holds on their bogeys. Three sets of railway track had preyiusly been laid on the floor of the hold, and on these the wagons were moved forward or backward ineide the ship. Considerable care had to be taken to guard against any possible movement during the voyage.

The shipment was brought to Auckland, and this is the nearest port with facilities for handling such cargo, but the ultimate destination of the wagons hae not yet been decided upon.

The unloading of the wagons this morning was watched by an interested crowd. It is expected that the Kini will leave to-day for Gisborne to load similar cargo.