WAKAKURA ENTERING COASTAL TRADE

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25608, 24 September 1948, Page 9

WAKAKURA ENTERING COASTAL TRADE

DUNEDIN-AUCKLAND RUN (P.A.) AUCKLAND, September 23. After a year’s service in the carriage of refrigerated cargoes between New Zealand jand Australia, the Tasman Shipping Company’s steamer, Wakakura, will transfer to the Dominion coastal trade next month. The steamer, which for many years was a minesweeper, will carry refrigerated and air-cooled cargoes by a regular direct service between Auckland and Dunedin. She will be the only refrigerated steamer to ply in the New Zealand coastal service.

The Wakakura will be replaced in the Tasman trade by the motor vessel Viti, in the middle of next month. The Viti, which was bought by the Tasman Shipping Company from the Fijian Government in March, is nearing the end of her conversion and will carry 250 tons of refrigerated cargo. Captain W. Clough Blair, director of the company, which is aAuckland former servicemen's syndi cate, said the Wakakura would oper the Auckland-Dunedin service on Oc tober 5 and it was planned that sb' would leave this oort for the south on alternate Tuesdays. With a capacity for 100 tons of cargo, the steamer would carry produce between the two' ports and would be valuable in transferring excesses of fruit and vegetables from both markets.