THE MAUI POMARE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 20

THE MAUI POMARE

CARRIAGE OF FRUIT

DESCRIPTION OF VOYAGE

'A familiar sight on the Wellington iraterfront is the Government motor-' ship Maui Pomare, 749 tons, which is engaged in the carriage of fruit from 3Siue and Apia to New Zealand. The, Maui Pomare used formerly to call at JDunedin, Lyttelton, Wellington, and Auckland, sailing finally from Auckland ±'or the Islands, but she now calls only at -Lyttelton and Wellington. The Maui Pomare leaves Wellington monthly, the sailing date- being on a Tuesday, at noon. The trip to the Islands i.3 a fine weather one. In order to keep ■up to schedule, it is necessary for the ship to maintain a speed of 10 knots, and this is done without difficulty. The Maui Pomare is very seldom late. Niue is Teached early on the following Monday morning. The vessel anchors in a little bight in, the coast, but the situation is so exposed that it is'impossible'for the ship to remain, at anchor in .heavy westerly weather. The ship anchors about .400 yaTds from, the shore, and'about .80 feet from the leef, the depth of water being about 20 fathoms. The natives of Niue make a gala day. of it,when the Maui Pomare calls. The vessel generally takes about 100 tons of cargo, comprising stores, to the Is-

lands, and the stores for Niue are unloaded- into surf boats. Most of the Slani Pomare Js stores are for Niue. These surf-boats are very well-built, because of the type of work they have to perform, and the ones at present in me cam© from Auckland. The natives 3n Niue are a more athletic type than thos& in Apia. j '•■ The Maui Pomare leaves Niue on the Monday evening, and proceeds to Apia, which she reaches at daybreak on Wednesday. The vessel anchors about a mile from tho shore in a bottle-neck harbour inside a reef. However, it is almost impossible to remain in that, position in heavy northerly or northwesterly weather. Big lighters are ■used in the carriage of stores, ashore, and fruit back to the ship. The fruit comprises bananas, and about 6500 eases—the bulk of the total cargo—ate loaded, at Apia. The fruit is loaded in about twenty-four working hours. / KOAD ROUND ISLAND. The Maui Pomare leaves Apia on. the Thursday night, and arrives back at Nine on. Saturday morning. The fruit is brought from the various parts of .the island on the preceding day by motor3orries.; The Toads on the island are quit? good, and. a hard, -whiteyi coral road.runs for' forty. miles round Niue". The •fruit for shipment is stored; near ■the.top of 'aconcre'te; chute, at the foot' <>£• ■.which, -is ■a. small' concrete wharf; -rsfiere the cases, are loaded into the surf .tioats, -thence to the Maui. Pomare. 'About. 1700 cases are 'loaded at Niue. The Maui Pomare leaves Niue the same' day'as she arrives there from Apia, and arrives at Lytteltpn'.on the Monday week; after a voyage in which varied weather is experienced. She leaves Lytteiton. the same day as her arrival, an.d' arrives at Wellington tho follow-ing-.day. The majority, of the fruit is discharged at Lytteiton. When the "Wellington, portion of the cargo is discharged,' the Maui Pomare remains in port until the following Tuesday. Stores for the Islands aTo loaded on the day prior to sailing. The'Maui Pomare also carries passengers. ■'•■.-.