Shipping News

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 20

Shipping News

Unending story of Chatham Islands

(By

JOHN LESLIE)

The unending story ofp the Chatham Islands unfolds again-—for it is election year. The Chathams are indeed a hardy annual for maritime observers close to the scene over many years. The Deputy Mayor of Christchurch (Mr P. J. Skellerup) described the Chatham Islands last April as j “forgotten islands.” The same I theme is being presented again. This time, the Values Party candidate for Lyttelton, Mr P. Heal, has said, after a visit to the Chathams, that .the islanders feel they are people completely neglected by Parliament, and generally ignored by other ( New Zealanders. The writer, for many years, has listened to similar statements, all no doubt made sincerely. i Older people will recall the ! fine shipping service to the (Chatham Islands, long main- ; tained against odds. There was the tiny Tees, whose limited passenger accommo- ( dation left hardly room to > swing a cat. Renamed the Holmwood, she was sunk in World War 11, on November 25, 1940, by thex German raider Komet. The Port Waikato was: another which took heavy | punishment on the stormy l iChathams run; and the solid Holmburn, with reasonably comfortable accommodation i for 12 passengers, also gave valiant service. The Holmdale, now owned

(by the Union Company, is I due at Lyttelton after routine servicing of the i Campbell Island weather station — she is a versatile! vessel, surely — and will load again for the Chatham | Islands. Let us recall that the: Holmdale is reinforced by the! taxpayer, and spends considerable periods “laying over” at Lyttelton, fully manned, while waiting for [Chathams cargo to build up. (She will “lay over” for much of next week. This is a fair and considerate service, ’ surely. Even local shippers and merchants must agree. The writer recalls vividly the battle waged by the late Mr H. L. Herdman, formerly , the Holm Shipping Com- ; pany’s Lyttelton-based manager, to keep the Chatham : Islands well served. Both Mr Herdman and the Holm Company’s managing director (Captain J. F. Holm) were magnificent in their promotion efforts for many years. Their patience was ( sorely tried — but not by ! j experienced shipping men, I who know the problems. Chatham Islanders have no television, but they do have . fresh air, and fresh food and fish. They do not suffer smog, pollution, a soaring crime rate, and major traffic (hazards. It is a matter of priorities and “values.” The Chathams’ assets are some- ’ thing that many of the world’s war-weary folk mi'ght be glad to have. One day, the Chatham Islands, for these (very reasons, might be in great demand. ARRIVALS Amalric <6.20 a m.), 7791.'Capt. D. C. Aitchison, Wellington (S.C.N.Z.). DEPARTURES Sachem ( P-m.), 18,245. Capt. Ling Yung, Singapore (U.S.S.) (tanker). EXPECTED ARRIVALS Union Wellington, Auckland, today. Rosario Maru, Wellington, today. Rangatira, Wellington, today. Inverbank. Bluff, today. Bowoon No. 3, Bunbury, today (tanker). Shansi, Wellington, October 5. Rangatira, Wellington, October 5. I Chevron Venice, Arabian Gulf, October 5. (Tanker.) | Gudrun Maersk, Singapore, October 6. (Tanker.) ; Coastal Trader, Auckland, October 6. ! Neptune. Christmas Island, October 7. (Bulk). Union Sydnev, Dunedin, October 7. i Cedric, Bluff. October 8. 1 Holmdale, Wellington, October 8. Wild Auk, Auckland, October 8. Turakina, Wellington, October 8. Ngakuta. Wellington, October 9. Orfeo, Texas, October 9 (bulk). I Fremantle Star, Auckland, October 10. PROJECTED DEPARTURES I Union Transtasman. Tauranga, today. Union Wellington, Wellington, today. ! Rangatira, Wellington, today (daylight). Rangatira, Wellington, October i 5 - Chevron Venice, Bluff, October 5. (Tanker.) < Coastal Trader, Dunedin, October 6. ! Inverbank, Napier. October 7. Gudrun Maersk, Wellington, October 7. (Tanker.) Bowoon No. 3. Wellington, October 7 (tanker). Union' Sydney, Wellington, October 7. Amalric, Napier, October 8. ‘ Rosario Maru, Dunedin, October 8. Ngakuta, , October 11. VESSELS IN PORT Japan Totara, No. 1 Cashin Quay. Union Transtasman. No. 3 West : Westmorland, No. 6 West, j Amalric, No. 7 East. i