RECOMMISSIONED LINERS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25300, 27 September 1947, Page 10

RECOMMISSIONED LINERS

AORANGI AND MONOWAI BEING PREPARED

••The Press’* Special Service AUCKLAND, September 26. Advice has been received by the Auckland office of the Union Steam Ship Company that two liners, the Monowai and the Aorangi, should be recommissioned in the first half of next year. The Monowai should re-enter the Tasman passenger service during the first week in June and the Aorangi is expected to resume in the Sydney-Auckland-Vancouver service early in April. The Aorangi’s initial sailing date is subject to confirmation in January. The two British liners have been under overhaul at Sydney after war service. Both will be fitted with new passenger accommodation, and additional modern passenger facilities. The Aorangi will carry 500 passengers in three classes across the Pacific, and the Monowai will have accommodation for 400 passengers in two classes. It is expected that the Monowai will take over the existing relief service of the Wahine, and that she will, in addition to voyages between Sydney and New Zealand, make occasional journeys to Vancouver. The return of the liners has been delayed for many months by industrial disputes in Sydney. It is probable that the Huddart Parker motor-liner Wanganella will be ready for the Sydney-New Zealand service in June. About 500 tons of steel for the damaged forepart of the liner will be shipped from Belfast to Wellington towards the end of this year, and there will be no delay when the material is received in beginning repairs. Reconstruction of the Matson liners, Mariposa, and Monterey, has been at a standstill since July, when the company decided to re-examine the post-war passenger programme. These liners were to have resumed in the South Pacific service early next year, but no indication of the company’s intentions has been given since work stopped. An interim service is still being provided by the converted troopship. Marine Phoenix, on charter to the Matson Company. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS AUCKLAND, Sept. 26. Arrived.—Karepo (7 a.m.), from Westport and Picton; Karitane (8 a.m.), from Lyttelton. To Arrive.—Aldington Court (9 p.m.), from Melbourne. WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. Arrived.—Hinemoa (7 a.m.), from Lyttelton. Sailed.—Arahura (1.5 p.m.), for Picton; Wahine (4.40 p.m.), for Sydney; Taupata (5 p.m.), for Tarakohe; Karu (6:40 p.m.), for Greymouth; Storm (7.20 p.m.), for Westport; Hinemoa (7.45 p.m.), for Lyttelton. DUNEDIN, Sept. 26. Arrived.—Waimarino (7 a.m.), from Bluff; Breeze, for Wellington.