N. Z. SHIPPING COMPANY.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11279, 21 May 1902, Page 8

N. Z. SHIPPING COMPANY.

11 ->■ A WELLINGTON RUMOUR.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.) WELLINGTON, May 19. A rumour has been current here during the last day or two to the effect that the New Zealand Shipping Company would, for the future, make Wellington the only port of call for its fleet in .his colony, that all boats would come here direct from London, via Capetown and Hobart (transhipping cargo for noxth or south, as the case might, 'be), and that the headquarters of the Company would, in cons.quence, be shifted from Christchurch to Wellington. This alteration, ij. was assumed by thos,e who expressed be.icf in the correctness oi the statement, would mean "not only . taster service, but reduced freights. The Wellington staff of tbe - Co___mny profess ignoranco of any such change., "so I am only able ,to give the rumour for what it is worth.

A number of directors of the Company were seen by a -ep_e__nt_t_ve o_ "The Press" ' yesterday, and expressed autonishment—and even amusemeat —at the statement. The news brought by the Press representative was the first intimation the directors had of these important changes, one gentleman drily remarked. Mr Isaac Gi!bbs, manager of toe Company's office here, said that tlie rumour was entirely without foundation. Asked as to whether there was a possible explanation of sucn a story, Mr Gibbs said that possibly the fact tha.. as the had been anxious to turn tbe Rimu__k_ round promptly, it had been decided ._ tranship the whole of iter cargo at Wellington, to en _ble return cargo to be taken in there, had something to do with. c_*> tale. This had been quite an exceptional case, and the transhipping had m__E_y been done to keep faith with tbe freezing companies, as a ship, was wanted at the time, and to enable tbe Rimutaka to get away quickly.