Shipping News

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 13

Shipping News

A bright ‘Good morning’

(By

JOHN LESLIE)

I "Good morning. Signal Tower,” said a new signalman brightly, when the writer telephoned yesterday morning to check shipping arrival times.

“Do you always say ‘good morning’?” the writer] asked. “Yes. always — but it is a good morning,” said the new man, whose friendly voice was recognisable as that of Mr K. Fitzgerald, who lives with his wife in the old Lyttelton Timeball Station.

Mr Fitzgerald’s cheeriness jand good manners must be commended, and augur well 'for the Lyttelton Harbour Board, because such employees help to create the kind iof image ifny great maritime 'organisation needs. Good manners are the essence of public relations at ground level, a lesson which large organisations might well heed. Yes, it was a beautiful morning at Lyttelton, one to gladden anyone, especially schoolchildren on holiday, visiting the sunbathed waterfront. At 7 a.m.. a labour shortage of 147 men existed, and two Japanese vessels, the 1 Japan Kauri and the Nile 'Maru. were initially idle. 'The Soochow (British) was short-manned. By day, 505 men were employed, and 30 more were required for supplementary evening hours. On present programming, the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s traffic manager (Mr J. B. Graham) anticipates continued heavy labour demand for the rest of this 1 week. # s< 6e

A 1901 photograph of the |Tyser Line’s steamer To;moana (5987 tons) in the ! Lyttelton Graving Dock, the ' largest vessel to enter same, printed in “The Press” on : Saturday, refers to her damage when she struck an -“uncharted bank” while anichored off Gisborne many I years ago. This reminds the [writer, and others bom in Gisborne, of the “uncharted rock” struck by the New Zealand Shipping Company’s cadet vessel Northumberland (aboard which the writer: trained) in the late 19205.

Must Gisborne people of 'those days, and later, would | know of the Ariel Reef, off 'Gisborne, which breaks in rough weather; but the ’ Northumberland’s uncharted rock became to Poverty Bay residents like the Loch Ness Monster. More than 40 years: later, it still awaits dis-: covery.

When the Northumberland struck, the writer, then a

schoolboy, was working on a Poverty Bay sheep station during school holidays. The Northumberland came close inshore, listing badly, and later went on to Auckland, where the dock was lengthened to accommodate her.

During his apprenticeship aboard the Northumberland, the writer met a senior apprentice, named from memory Broadhead, who had been helmsman during the mishap. Then at Liverpool, in 1933, when the writer became fourth officer, of the Tongariro (after obtaining his second mate’s certificate), the master was Captain P, B. (“Nobby”) Clarke, who had been chief officer of the Northumberland when she encountered trouble at Gisborne. Further, the company’s marine superinten-: I dent, then at Liverpool, was Captain C. Broughton (a .New Zealander), who had ’been master of the Northumberland during the Gis-‘ borne incident. Marine superintendents and ship-, masters were then remote, . dei f’ e d beings.! Where do you come from?” Captain Broughton asked. "Gisborne, sir/’ the writer replied, shuddering slightly.; There was silence. One could' have heard a pin drop. A letter has been received Trom the national office! (Wellington) of the Inter- 1 national Meditation Society,! after an item in this column' recently called "Meditation. at Sea.” The letter is noted and appreciated, as is another letter from G. C. of Christchurch on the same subject. An invitation by the society, to attend a lecture

,on Transcendental Medita-I ' tion in the ChristchurchTown Hall next week, must] be respectfully declined, because the writer will be on ‘annual leave. « # s J. D. of Christchurch asks what happened eventually to the 27,469 ton Cunard-White Star passenger liner Georgic (sister of Britannic). As he explains, many members of the Second N.Z.E.F. during World War II would be interested — “for we last saw her bombed out at Port Tewfik, in 1 think, 1941.” According to Lloyd’s Register of 1949-50, the Britannic (1930) and Georgic (1932), both Belfast-built, were still operating on the Atlantic ferry service, as long as that after hostilities. Older seafarers will readily recall these two twin-funnelled, squat yet rakish liners at Liverpool Landing Stage, in prewar days. Someone may be able to help this inquirer. ARRIVALS Rangatira (6.38 a.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E Pugh-Williams, Wellington (U.S.S.). Japan Kauri (7.25 a.m.), 6996, Capt. Hidemobo Obata, Wellington (N.S.S.I. DEPARTURES Rangatira (8.17 p.m.), 9387, Capt. R. E Pugh-wfiliame, Wellington (US.S.I. EXPECTED ARRIVALS Coastal Trader, Auckland, today. Union Sydney, Melbourne, today. : Povang. Wellington, August 28. I <Semi-eontainer). Rangatira. Wellington. August 28. ,

I Rio Grande Maru Wellington. August 28. '1 Frysna, Tonga. August 28. i Magnificence Venture. Tauranga. August 28. ißulk.' Samoan Reefer, Auckland, ust 29. Nippon Reefer. Bluff. August 29. Essex. Napier, August 30. . Japan Rimu. Wellington. August I Erne, Nelson. August 30 (Tanker.) - Straat Freetown. Singapore. August 31. Chevron Leiden. Arabian Gulf. September 1. (Tanker.) ' Athelvlseount. Marsden Point, , September 2 (Tanker.) ■ Tasman Career, Auckland,. Sep-, : tember 2. Hawea, Wellington, September 2. ‘ PROJECTED DEPARTURES 1 Mjdison Lloyd. Dunedin, today, i lonic, Timani, today. Union Sydney. Wellington, today. ; Soochow, Tauranga. today. Mataura. Nelson, August 28. Rangatira, Wellington, August 28. Coastal Arader, Auckland, Aug- i ust 28. Japan Kauri, New Plymouth.: August 29. Poyang, Tauranga, August 29 (Semi-container). Frysna, Auckland, August 30. Nile Maru, August 30. Magnificence Venture, , August 30. (Bulk.) I Erne. Tauranga. August 31 1 Japan Rimu. Napier, September 1 2. Chevron Leiden. Tauranga, Sep-! tember 2. (Tanker.) Hawea, Dunedin. September 2. Athelvlseount, Nelson, Septem-' ber 3. (Tanker) Straat Freetown. Wellington,: Septemebr 3. Nippon Reefer, Pieton, Septem-; ber 3. VESSELS IN PORT tonic, No. I Cashin Quay. Mataura, No. 2 Cashin Quav. Nile Maru, No. 3 Cashin Quay. Holmdale. No. 3 East. Madison Lloyd. No. 3 West. Soochow. No. 7 East. Japan Kauri, No. 7 West. John Wilson, dry dock