SPEEDY AWATEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 8

SPEEDY AWATEA.

WELL-EARNED REST.

LINER'S SPLENDID RECORD.

OVER 82,000 MILES LOGGED.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 26. When the liner Awatea came into Sydney Harbour last Saturday she completed her sixty-first trip across the Tasman. She started in the service on September 15 last year and since then she has put up a record that is not likely to be beaten, at least on this side of the world, for a long time to come. Within the last 18 months she has made 35 passages on the Sydney-Wellington route and 26 trips between Sydney and Auckland. In addition she has made ten coastal passages in New Zealand waters, each of 237 miles. The vessel has steamed in all 82,440 miles, she has made calls at 76 ports and shn has carried at least 25,000 passengers. Last September'the Awatea began on the old "slow time-table" — one trip a week between New Zealand and Sydney. Then the "fast" timetable, giving return trips each week, was introduced and since then the Awatea has done more strenuous work than any other liner has ever been asked to do in the time. Praised By Her Captain. Captain Davey, her commander, speaks highly of his ship and the wonderful way in which she has stood up to her work in all weather and under all conceivable conditions. Now the Awatea is to take a wellearned rest. She will be* laid up for two months at Cockatoo Island, where she will have a thorough overhauling and will be supplied with gearing of a new type. The Maunganui will take her place on the Tasman run till July 30. The Awatea stands high in the favour of all who know her—officers, crew and tourist alike. Last week- the ship received the gift of a silver bowl, suitably inscribed, from Lady Bledisloe, who performed the ceremony of launching the steamer. The liner well deserves a rest,' but she will be welcomed back enthusiastically by travellers on the Tasman routes when her vacation is over."