NEW ISLAND SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 338, 27 October 1908, Page 10

NEW ISLAND SERVICE.

ITS ADVANTAGES. The fruit merchant of Wellington cannot understand Auckland's hysterical indignation over the Government subsidising a direct service between the South Sea Islands and Wellington. One representative of a big firm stated that Wellington had been endeavouring to got this service for ten years past, and now that belated justice had arrived — commercial justice to Wellington and tho South Island —Wellington, to judge from the Auckland papers, was hitting below tho belt, and undermining tho foundations of Auckland's prosperity. This will bo a big thing for Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. The journey from Raratonga to Wellington is only about sixteen hours longer than from B-aratonga to Auckland, and yet see what it means to us. At present the steamer arrives at Auckland on Thursday, the fruit is shipped by tho boat that leaves on Saturday, and arrives here tho following Tuesday—fivo days after it reaches New Zealand. Fruit for the South arrives at Christchurch on tho Wednesday and Dunedin on the Thursday—a full week from the date of tho vessel's arrival at Auckland. Imagine tho effect of a week of mid-summer weather on ripe fruit stowed in a steamer's hold. Now we are hoping that the steamer will arrive in Wellington on Monday or Tuesday, and will leave on tho latter day for Lyttelton and Dunedin with tho southern fruit. The greater part of Now Zealand would benefit, too, on account of Wellington being a moro central port for the distribution of mails. _ Mr. Kennedy, local manager of the Union Company, states that so far no details are available regarding tho new service, further than that it -will be inaugurated in January. The steamer to be engaged in the service has not yet been fixed upon, and tho running of the steamers will depend on the dates. Messrs. Spreckles and Company's mail-boats arrive at and sailed from Tahiti (from and/ to San Francisco). This information is now expected daily, and as soon as it is known tho company will make its' arrangements accordingly. j