ISLAND FRUIT

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 53, 6 March 1929, Page 8

ISLAND FRUIT

MAUI POMARE'S CARGO

POSSIBILITY OF LOSS

Advice was received last night by the Secrotary, Cook Island Department, ■Wellington, from the master of the motor-vessel Maui Pomare, en\ route from Samoa and Niue, that difficulty is being met with in regard to cooling the fruit, particularly in No. 2 hold. As a result, the vessel is being diverted to Auckland as the first port of call, and it is anticipated will discharge part of her cargo there. It is hoped to carry tho remainder on to tho South Island.

Earlier messages , reported trouble with a hot bearing on the port generator, but as the vessel is equipped with duplicate generator sets it was .hoped that the refrigerating plant would not bo seriously , affected. Apparently, however, the refrigerating effect has not been sufficient to bring down the temperature of the whole cargo. Every"thing possible is being done to safeguard the cargo, but it is feared there will bo some loss. 1 Since the trouble that occurred in the carriage of bananas in August last, the vessel has been running under the direction of a technical advisory committee '■ of engineers associated with the Department in Wellington. A full inquiry into the cause of the present trouble will be held on the ship's arrival in Auckland. The vessel and her; machinery were passed "Al" by Lloyd's in January last. Advice has also been received from Rarotonga that, owing to adverse weather, the Tahiti has so far been unable to ship her fruit cargoes at that port. Tho weather yesterday was unfavourable, and prospects to-day are still unpromising. ''■.'■■