SALE OF THE PAPANUI.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 112, 13 May 1910, Page 8

SALE OF THE PAPANUI.

• ♦ SOME DETAILS OF THE TRANSACTION. With reference to the sale of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer ■Papaaiui, which was damaged by striking an uncharted rock on the western coast of Tasmania, and has been moored in the Yarra for some months, a letier was read at a meeting of the Meltonrne Harbour Trust last week from the local agents, the New Zealand Loan ,and Meßeaakrle Agency Company, stating that the vessel bad been sold. The 'local agents had not fall particulars of ithe sale, butithey had been advised from Christchurch that delivery of the vessel -ftnsaEd be taken at Melbourne on the ■14Ch inst. It will be remembered that the Eapaaiui was docked in the Yarra, bat owing to it being ascertained that the repairs to her would cost £23,000, the owners withdrew her from the dock and t>effth«d her in the Yarra, pending her sate. The trust aJlow«d the vessel to remain alongside the wharf from the sth Ptebmiary to 28fch April without ■charge, but, nothing having been done with r-ega&d to the vessel, decided to charge quayage rates as from the latter dafce Id was ascertained on the night of the Jneeting/ that the Papanui h^d been, purchased by a syndicate of Melbourne frosme&s and shipping men at a price eoDtewirere in the neighbourhood of dESIG,OOO. Mr. H. C. Sleigk, who is one of the representatives of tke syndicate, states tnat the vessel is to be repaired, and if a suitaWe Quotation can be obtained; in Melbourne for the work it will Be carried out there. The original lowest tender for 'the repairing of the steamer — which has a hole 150 feet long by 5 feet wide in her hirll— was £23,000, but the syndicate thinks this price too large. No information can be obtained as to the trade it is proposed to run the vessel in, but it is generally understood that she is to be fitted up to carry live stock. The Fapanui originaSy cost between £96,000 and £100,000.. A southern contemporary understands that the purchasers are the firm that recently bought the business of Messrs. D. Benjamin and Company, and known as the Australasian Assets Company.

A conductor, Ba-de, on a Wallacestreet car, travelling in Cuba-street, had a mishap near the Ghuznes-etreet crossing soon after 2 o'clock this afternoon. He wa6 knocked from the side of the car by a passing cart. The man was shaken, and had a. hip bruised by his fall, but 'he-was not severely, hvik